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Copy 1 



DIARY OF JOHN HARROWER, 

I773-I776 



REPRINTED FROM THE 



gimman §ii$toticat §nitw 



VOL. VI NO. I OCTOBER 1900 



DOCUMENTS 

Diary of John Harnnvcr, 1773-1776 

That indented servants were a large class among the emigrants 
to the American colonies is well known, but it is not to be expected 
that we should ever obtain a large amount of knowledge of the 
fortunes of a class so obscure and inarticulate. It is known, also, 
that of the many Scottish indented servants who came to Virginia 
before the Revolution, some were employed as schoolmasters. But 
it was by no means to be expected that we should be able to print, 
not only the actual diary of an indented servant, but that of one 
belonging to this peculiarly interesting class. That we are per- 
mitted to do so is owing to the kindness of Mrs. Sally Nelson 
Robins, assistant librarian of the Virginia Historical Society. The 
document, printed with necessary omission of portions not now 
interesting, affords most valuable glimpses into the life of an in- 
dented servant in America, even though the writer was plainly 
above the average of that class in intelligence and not all his exper- 
iences are typical. The book in which the diary is written is a 
small quarto volume (about 8x6 in.) bound in vellum, and con- 
taining at present 145 pages. It once contained a few more. It 
was found among the papers of the Corbin family, of Moss Neck 
and Farley Vale, Virginia. 

Diligent efforts have been made to discover something of the 
earlier history of John Harrower, of Lerwick in Shetland. These 
have been seconded, with the utmost kindness, by James M. 
Goudie, Esq., of Lerwick, a devoted student of Shetland antiquities, 
and by Francis J. Grant, Esq., Rothesay Herald, Edinburgh. But 
little has been found. Mr. Goudie has obligingly sent a series of 
contributions by him to the Shetland Times, embracing extracts from 
the kirk -session records of Lerwick, and others entitled " Annals of 
the County of Zetland," edited by another hand. These cast light 
upon some of the friends mentioned by Harrower, they illustrate the 
surroundings from which he emigrated, and they to a certain ex- 
tent exhibit his points of contact with America before he thought 
of coming here. Thus, on October 15, 1773, only seven weeks 
before he left his home, a letter from the sheriff substitute is laid 
before the kirk -session asking charitable aid for the many destitute 

VOL. VI.— 5. ( 65 ) 



66 Docwncnts 

passengers of a ship wrecked at Walls, a kw miles away, and con- 
fined there for a time by reason of the infection among them. It 
was an emigrant ship. The Rev. Mr. Mill says in his Diaiy^ con- 
cerning it : 

"A vessel from Leith with 260 emigrants for North Carolina was by 
stress of weather put into Vela Sound in Walls. The smallpox at same 
time carried off severals, and some of their children crammed in the hold 
were said to be stifled to death and thrown overboard into the sea, before 
they landed ; after which the vessel was driven from her anchors, and so 
damaged that they could not, for several months, put to sea again. The 
people were dispersed through the several parishes for subsistence accord- 
ing to the Sheriff's decreet. They went back for Leith in April, and the 
project for America thereby miscarried." 

But only two direct references to John Harrower have been 
discovered in Lerwick records. One shows him, as one of the 
heritors or landholders of the parish, attending a meeting in De- 
cember, 1765, which votes to send to Scotland for a supply of oat- 
meal for the poor. The other, January 14 of the same year, is the 
record of his admission into the Morton Lodge of Freemasons, — 
" Harrower, John, Merchant, Lerwick." In records at Edinburgh 
Mr. Grant finds evidence that he came to Shetland after 1750. He 
also finds in the Sasine Register, under date of 1762, 1767 and 
1770, three evidences of tenements held by "John Harrower mer- 
chant in Lerwick and Anna Graham his spouse." This would 
seem to have been a previous wife ; or the pair may possibly have 
been our Harrower's father and mother. 

Evidently Harrower was a minor person in Lerwick. Yet he 
wrote a very good hand, and was fairly well educated at a time 
when schools hardly existed in Shetland. Whatever may have 
been the cause of his leaving home (there is no fuller indication than 
that contained in his letter to his brother-in-law), every page of the 
diary shows that he was frugal and industrious to a high degree, and 
he was evidently much regarded by Colonel Daingerfield. Finally, 
if Jock, his oldest child, was born in November, 1762, he may 
not improbably have been thirty-five or forty when he left Lerwick. 
Nothing more is known of his sulasequent life than that, after his 
sojourn at "Belvidera," he became a sort of manager at "Moss 
Neck," near Fredericksburg, the home of Richard Corbin. For 
this information, and for some of the footnotes, we are indebted to 
Mrs. Robins. 

As to Mrs. Harrower, Mr. Goudie writes : 

" His wife belonged to one of the leading families in the town — the 
Craigies of Stebbiegrind. A portion of the sea-front of the town still 

' Diary of the Heverend James Mill (Scottish History Society, V. ), p. 40. 



Diary of Joltn Harroiver 67 

bears their name — ' Craigie's Stane.' Miss Turnbull Stewart, a repre- 
sentative of the Craigie family whose residence is the Old Manse, informs 
me that Mrs. Harrower died in that house. She further says that she re- 
members coming across an old letter addressed to one of the Craigies, 
in which the hope was expressed that Mrs. Harrower was being cared 
for. Nothing is known about Mrs. Harrower's children, but it is evi- 
dent that she did not join her husband in America." 

The old letter referred to may have been that of August 28, 
1775, addressed to Captain James Craigie. 



Mitnday, &*■ Dec' 1773. This morning I left my house ' and family 
at 4 OClock in order to travel in search of business and imediatly went 
on board a sloop ready to saile for Leith, Oconachie M' and at 5 OClock 
he sailed Accordingly with the wind at N. At this time I am Master of 
no more Cash but 8Ad and stockins " &c. to the amount of ^3 st' ' or 
thereabout, a small value indeed to traviel with.* 

Miinday, 27th. Wind at S. E. with heavy rain. Both the Smacks 
in the River yet. This evening it being S' John's night the Free Masons 
made a very grand procession through the high street, they began at 6 
pm and it was 1 1 pm before the last loge hade done, they were attended 
by a party of the Grandideers ^ who carried their flambows and each 
Loge walked seperatly, they being three. 

Tuesday, 28th. Wind at E. fine weather, this da)' I once thought 
of engaging with the Mr of the Elizabeth Brigantine bound for North 
Carolina but the thoughts of being so far from my family prevented me. 
at noon the wind came all round to the N. V." and then Mr. began to 
make ready as fast as possible for sailing. 

Wednesday, 2gth. At 2 AM left my Loging having been here 16 
days and my method of living was as follows Vizt for Breackfast 4-d. 
worth of bread ^d. worth of Cheese and a bottle of ale at id. For 
dinner id. worth of bread, Ad. worth of Broath, id. worth of Meat and 
a bottle of ale at id. and the same for supper as for breackfast, and id. a 
night for my bedd. On leaving my logings at the time above mentioned 
I went onb!*the sloop Williams, Wm. Bell M', for Newcastle, and he im- 
ediatly hauled out of the harbour and made saile with the Wind at 
N. N. V. At 9 pm was obliged to ly too for the tide on Tynemouth bar. 
at midnight bore away for the Bar and got weel over it. 

Thursday, jofh. At i AM we passed by shiels' and went up the 
River Tyne, and at 2 AM made fast to Newcastle Key, we having been 

1 At Lerwick. 

2 Shetland stockings were famous, and were already an important article of export. 

3 Pounds sterling as distinguished from pounds Scots, the ordinary money of account 
in Shetland. 

* Persuading the master to set him ashore at Montrose, Harrower walked thence to 
Dundee, where he remained from December 13 to December 29. 
5 Grenadiers. 
6/. <•., NW. 
' Shields. 



68 Documents 

no more than 24 hours from Dundee here 3 of which we lay too. At 9 
AM I went ashore to Newcastle in Comp?' with MfBell and 5 others who 
were passangers along with me, and after drinking a English poynt of ale a 
piece I enquired at the Pilots and others if there was any Vessel presently 
at Newcastle bound for Holland but found there was none. At same 
time was informed that Sunderland was a more proper place to look out 
for a ship bound there. . . . 

MiDiday, j^ Jan'', 1774.^ This day snowing very hard, Wind at 
N. N. E. At 9 AM went out to see if I cou'd sell any stockins, but re- 
turned again at 10 AM without selling any ; I then paid my bedd for two 
nights which cost me 2d. each night at same time sent out for ^ worth 
of bread and id. worth of cheese for my breackfast and I found both 
bread and Cheese far less for the money than at Dundee. Yesterday I 
neither eat nor drank any thing all day but my dinner which cost me 6^ 
and Just now I am Master of no more Cash than is. i|d. and when I 
shall get more God only knows. At 1 1 AM Crossed the River to South 
Sunderland and Called to see Wm. Scollay, but was told he was not at 
home, after that I traviled the Town untill 2 pm in which time I sold 
three pair of stockins for four shillings and four pence, which was eight 
pence less than they cost me in Zetland. I then returned home and 
bought id. worth of bread id. worth of cheese and id. worth of small 
beer which served me for dinner and supper. 

Wednesday, 5th. AVind and weather as yesterday, this afternoon I 
hear of a Brigantine called the Nancy ready load for Holland, and that 
she always used that trade. 

Thursday, 6tli. Wind at S. and a verry gentle thaw, at 8 AM I 
went to Warmouth' and spacke with Mr. George Lacen [ ? ] Com' of the 
Nancy Brigantine, who informed me, that he himself was not sure where he 
was to go. But that I might speacke to Mr John Taylor the Owner which 
I immediatly did and he told me, that if the Rivers was open the Nancy 
would go to Holland, if not probably to London, and that I was ex- 
treamly welcome to my passage. I then waited on Mr. Lacen and 
aquanted him of the same, and imediatly put my trunk and bundle on 
board 

Freiday, 7th. Got out of bedd at 6 AM this morning, at 8 AM 
went, at 9 AM they began to haul out of the harbour and came to an 
Anchor in the Roads at 10 AM and lay in the road untill four keels of 
Coals was put on board, each keel being Twenty Tun, and they were all 
Onb? by half an houre past noon. At i pm got under saile with the wind 
at N. B. E.' with a verry high sea runing, a great deall of w^hich she 
shipped all this afternoon, steered until midnight S. S. E. * 

1 At Sunderland, where no ships for Holland were to be found, the ice in the Dutch 
rivers precluding the voyage. 

2 Monk Wearmouth, opposite Sunderland. 
'/. e., north by east. 

'From this time till noon of the llth the brigantine sailed along the English coast, 
finally coming to anchor at Portsmouth, where the captain went ashore to sell his coal and 
where llarrower vainly sought passage to Holland. 



Diary of John Harroiver 69 

Wednesday, 12th. This morning fine clear weather but hard frost. I 
waited onb:". untill three pm for Cap! Lacoers [?] returning. But when I 
found he did not I left a letter of thanks to him for his favours shown 
me, for he would take no passage money from me, Besides that he used 
me like a Brother making me sleep and eat with himself; I then went 
ashore and immediately set out for London with no more cash in my 
pocket [but] IS. Sj^d. St: I pray, May God provide more for me and 
for all who are in strait. Immediatly as I left Portsmouth I fell into 
Compr and conversaition on the road to whome I sold two pair of stock- 
ins 4/6d. it being the price they cost me in Zetland. I traveled four 
Miles this afternoon and lodged all night at Post doun' bridge and the 
House had a Battery of Twelve Canon round it. here I supped on eight 
Oisters and id. and Y-y worth of Bread, with a poynt of strong and a 
poynt of small beer which [cost] me 3d., being in all 4j^d. for supper, 
here I paid 3d. for my bedd, and it was warmed with a warming pan, this 
being the first time I ever seed it done. 

Thursday, 13th. Wind at E. so thick that I could not see above 
100 yards distance. I crossed over Post doun hill and Breackfast at 
Handen,- and after crossing a large barren Common of that name I 
dinned at Petersfield and then Got as far as Raik in the County of Sussex 
where I staid all night, having traviled twenty miles this [day] which is 
more than I did e.xpect earring my Box and Bundle on my back ; They 
have for firing here, nothing but a kind [of] heath like flaws.'* at this 
place I paid 3d. for my bedd, My diet being all the old storry. Bread, 
Cheese and beer, and I hade a Rush Candle to light me to bedd. 

Freiday, 14th. This morning I sold in my lodgings sundry articles 
to the amount of iS/gd. St' which Articles cost me ^1.5/6 St'. So that 
necessity obliged me to lose 6/9d. ... * 

Sunday, i6th. This day after breackfast and read» some Chapters 
on a Newtestament I found in my room, I made the two following verses 
which I here insert below. 

My absent friends God bless, and those, 
my wife and Children dear ; 
I pray for pardon to my foes. 
And for them sheds a tear. 
At Epsom here this day I ly. 
Repenting my past sins ; 
Praying to Jesus for his mercy. 
And success to my friends. 

Here I hade an extream good dinner in Piiblick, for sixpence, in the 
Afternoon I took a Walk and seed round this place a great many fine 
Houses and gardens most of them belonging to Londoners. 

* Portsdown. 
^Homdean. 
3 Flax. 

* Harrower then walked on by way of Godalming and Guildford to Epsom, where 
he spent Sunday. 



70 Docitments 

\Tuesday\, i8th. This day I got to London and was like a blind 
man without a guide, not knowing where to go being freindless and hav- 
ing no more money but fifteen shillings and eight pence farthing a small 
sum to enter London with ; But I trust in the mercys of God who is a 
rich provider and am hopefull before it is done some way will cast up for 
me. I took up my lodging at the old ship Tavern in little Hermitage 
street,' Mr. George Newton being the landlord, but in Prison for debt 
at present. 

Wednesday, igth. This day I shifted my cloaths and put on a clean 
Ruffled Shirt, clean Britches and waistcoat and my Brown Coat, I 
not having any other cloaths on ever since I left Lerwick but my blew 
Jacket and Bigg Coat above it and a plain shirt. At ii AM I 
called to see Cap! Perry, but was told he would not be at home untill 5 
pm. Having eat nothing for 24 houres, I dinned in my Lodging this 
day which cost me 1/2 St'. After dinner I took a walk with the mate 
of a ship a Scotsman who carried me through Virginia street, London 
street, part of White Chappel street, down to London Hospitall, through 
Ragg fair, the Minnories, Round Tour hill, and the Tour, through 
Saint Catharins, and Bur street and so home. 

A 5 pm called again at Cap! Perrys and the first face I saw was 
Willie Holcraw of Coningsburgh^ who I found staid here as a servant, 
and while I was speacking to him, Cap! Perry came home and he imme- 
diatly knew me, and desired me to walk in which I did, and after sit- 
ting some time and drinking some tea, I called Cap! Perry aside and 
made my Intentions known to him, at same time begged his advice and 
assistance ; He told me he hardly thought there would be any Business 
got for me in London. But told me to call on him at the Jamacia Coffee 
House to morrow at Change time. I then went home, and soon went 
to Bedd. 

Thursday, 20th. This morning breackfast at home and paid 6d. for 
it. At noon called at the Jamacia Coffee House and soon after seed 
Cap' Perry and waited here and Change untill 3 pm but no appearance 
of any Business for me. the time I was in the Coffee house I drank 3ds. 
worth of punch, and I was obliged to make it serve me for Dinner, at 
night I hade ^d. worth of bread and id. of Cheese and a poynt of Porter 
for supper it being all I cou'd afford. 

Freiday, 21st. This morning I seed an advertisement for Bookeepers 
and Clerks to go to a Gentlemen [at] Philadelphia. I went as it directed 
to N°^i in Catharine Court princes street, but when I came there I was 
told they^were served. I then waited again on Cap! Perry untill after 3 
pm But to no purpose. I this day offered to go steward of a ship bound 
to Maryland but could not get the' birth. This day I was 3 or 4 miles 
through London and seed S! Paul's Church, the Bank of England where 

' In Wapping, near the London Docks. 

2 Or Cunningsburgh, a village about eight miles south of Lerwick. The name Hal- 
crow appears frequently in the documents printed as appendixes to the Diary of the 
Reverend James Mill, Minister of the Parishes of Dunrossness, Sandwich and Cunnings- 
burgh (Scottish History Society, V.). 



Diary of John Harroiver 71 

I seed the gold lying in heaps, I also seed Summerst house,' Gild hall, 
Drury Lane, Covingarden,^ Adelphus Buildings and several other pleaces. 
I then returnd and near my lodgings I dinned at an eating house and 
hade 4d. worth of roast Beiff id. worth of bread and a poynt of small 
beer, in all 5ld. 

Saturday, 22d. This morning I seed an advertisement in the Publick 
ledger for a Messenger to a publick Lodge, Sallery 15/ Sf per week and 
another advertisement for an under Clerk to a Merch' to both which I 
wrote answers and went to the places apointed, and found at each place 
more than a dozen of Letters before me, so that I hade litle expectation 
that way they being all weel aquanted and I a stranger. I then went 
to change to see if any thing would cas[t] up but to no purpose, so I 
returned hom at 4 pm and spent the evening in a verry sollitary manner 
supping on bread and Cheese as usuall. 

Sunday, 2jd. This morning I drank some purle for breackfast and 
then I took a walk in the forenoon through severall streets, and at i pm 
I returned to the eating house I hade formerly been at and dinned which 
cost me 6|- today having hade id. worth of pudding more than I form- 
erly hade. In the afternoon I went to a Methodists meeting, the Text 
was in the V Chap : Mathew and the 20th Verse. After sermon I came 
home and being solitary in my room I made the following Verses which 
I insert on the other side of this leaf 

Now at London in a garret room I am, 
here frendless and forsaken ; 
But from the Lord my help will come. 
Who trusts in him are not mistaken. 

When freinds on earth do faint and fade. 
And upon you their backs do turn ; 
O Truly seek the Lord, and he will 
Them comfort that do murn. 

I'll unto God my prayer make, 
to him my case make known ; 
And hopes he will for Jesus sake. 
Provide for me and soon. 

Afunday, 24.th. This morning I wrote six tickets to give to ship- 
masters at Change seeking a steward's birth onb'l some ship, but could 
not get a birth. I also wrote a petition in generall to any Merch! or 
Tradesman setting forth my present situation, and the way in which I 
hade been brought up and where I hade served and in what station, at 
same time offering to serve any for the bare suport of life fore some time. 
But all to no effect, for all places here at present are intierly carried by 

' Somerset House. Not the building now so called, but its predecessor, the old 
mansion of the Protector Somerset. 
^Covent Garden. 



72 Documents 

freinds and Intrest, And many Hundreds are sterving for want of employ- 
ment, and many good people are begging. 

Tuesday, 2jfh. Having heard last night that John Ross sloop was 
come from Zetland, I took a Boat this morning and went onboard her 
and seed him and Robert Irvine. And then I hade the happiness to hear 
that my wife and Childrein were all well on the 3'' In" it being the day 
they left Bressaysound.' The rest of this day I was employed in present- 
ing the Petition I hade drawn up on the 24"' Ins! to severall Merch'.' and 
others and doing all I cou'd to get into business of some kind near home 
but all to no effect. 

IVfdnesday, 26th. This day I being reduced to the last shilling I 
hade was obliged to engage to go to Virginia for four years as a school- 
master for Bedd, Board, washing and five pound during the whole time. 
I have also wrote my wife this day a particular Acco! of every thing that 
has happned to me since I left her untill this date ; At 3 pm this day I 
went on board the Snow Planter Cap! Bowers Com! for Virginia now 
lying at Ratliff Cross, and imediatly as I came Onb"! I rec'! my Ham- 
mock and Bedding, at 4 pm came Alex' Steuart onb'! the same Ship, 
he was Simbisters Serv! ''■ and had only left Zetland about three weeks before 
me. we were a good deall surprised to meet w! on another in this place. 

Thursday, zjth. This day ranie weather, the ships crew imployed 
in rigging the ship under the Direction of the mate and I was imployed 
in getting my Hammock slung, at 2 pm came onb'l Alex! Burnet nephew 
to Mr. Francis Farquharson writter in Edinburgh and one Samuel Mitch- 
ell a Cooper from Yorkshire and both entred into the berth and Mace' 
with Stewart and me. 

Saturday, 2gth. This day came on b* Alex' Kennedy a young man 
from Edinb! who hade been a Master Cooper there and a Glasgow Man 
by trade a Barber both which we took into our Mace, which compleated 
it being five Scotsmen and one Yorkshireman, and was always called the 
Scots mace, And the Cap' told me he was from the Toun of Aberbothick 
in Scotland, but th' he [had] not been there since he was fifteen years of 
age but hade been always in the Virginia trade which I was verry glad 
to hear. 

Munday, Jist. This day I went ashore and bought a penknife, a 
paper Book, and some paper and pens and came on board to Dinner. 
It is surprising to see the N° of good tradesmen* of all kinds, th! come 
onb'l every day. 

Freiday, February 4th. This day at 7 AM unmoored from Ratliff- 
cross and fell down the river with the tide there being no wind. This 
day I seed Deptfoord, Greenage* Hospitall, Blackwall and Ullage. '^ at i 

' The harbor of Lerwick. 

2/. e., a servant of John Bruce Stewart of Symbister and Bigton, an important pro- 
prietor in the south of Shetland. Diary of Rev. James Mill, pp. 22, 151, etc. 
3 Mess. 

* /. e., artisans. 
'Greenwich. 
^ Woolwich . 



Diaiy of John Harroiucr "jt, 

pm came to an Anchor a little below the i way house. At 6 pm got 
under way again and fell down untill quite dark and then came to an 
Anchor a little above Pourfleet. 

Sunday, 6th. At 7 AM got under way with a fair wind and clear 
w! and at 1 1 AM came to an anchor off Gravesend and immediatly the 
Merch! came onboard and a Doctor and clerk with him and while the 
Clerk was filling up the Indentures the doctor search' d every serv! to see 
that they were sound when . . . seventy five were Intend ^ to Cap' 
Bowres for four Years. 

Munday, ytli. This forenoon imployed in getting in provisions and 
water, at 4 pm put a servant ashore extreamly bade in a fever, and then 
got under saile for Virginia with seventy Servants on board all indented 
to serve four years there at their differint Occoupations myself being one 
of the Number and Indented for a Clerk and Bookeeper, But when I ar- 
rived there I cou'd get no such birth as will appear in the place.' At 
pm we came to an anchor at the nore it blowing and snowing verry hard. 

Tuesday, 8th. At 5 AM made saile from the Nore with the wind at 
W. N. W. Clear weather and blowing hard, at 2 pm got off a Pillot 
from Deall to take our River Pillot ashore for which Boat Cap' Bowers 
paid one and a half Guineas, and after buying some Gin here we stood 
streight to sea Under Close R. T. sails' and our fore saile, a verry high 
sea running all this day. 

Sunday, ijth. Wind at V. B. S.' squally weather. Eight saile 
more at anchor in Company w! us. At noon the Indented servants was 
like to mutiny against the Cap! for putting them to Allowance of bread 
and Mate, but it was soon quelled, Our mace not joyning with the rest, 
in the afternoon he went ashore, But before he left the Ship he called 
me and begged I wou'd stand by the Mate if there arose any disturbance 
among the rest of the servants. 

Saturday, 26th. Wind at N. B. E. fine moderate weather, got 
up Ydf and Topmasts, at 10 AM The Cap' went ashore to get more 
fresh provisions, at 4 pm he came onb'l from Portsmouth with Bread, 
Beiff Pork and Water and then imediatly got under sail and stood out to 
sea. At this time we hade three men sick onb'' one with the flux, one 
with the fever and Ego,* and one frost bitt in his feet. At 11 pm the 
wind came all round to the N. V. Blowing verry hard, at Midnight 
close reefd the topsails. 

Sunday, 2/th. Wind at N. V. at 4 AM Tack'd ship. At same 
time the man who was bade with the flux was found dead in his ham- 
mock, at 8 he was sewed up in it and at 9 AM he was hurried in the sea 
after reading the service of the Dead over him, which was done by the 
Mate. 

^ Indented. 

^This and the entry of May 25,/oj/', show that the entries down to the latter date 
are not in the absolute sense contemporary ; but a passage in a letter, under August 7, 
1774, seems to indicate that daily notes were taken. 

'I. e., close-reefed top-sails. 

* /. <?., west by south. 

5 Ague. 



74 Documents 

Freiday, March nth. Wind weather and course as yesterday, this 
forenoon clear but verry squally like, at 4 pm stowed the Maintopsail and 
at 7 pm stowed fore Top saile and close reefd the Main saile and scuded 
under it. The wind blowing excessive hard and a verry high sea running 
still from the westward, at 8 pm was oblidged to batten down both fore 
and main hatches, and a little after I really think there was the odest 
shene ' betwixt decks that ever I heard or seed. There was some sleep- 
ing, some spewing, . . . some daming, some Blasting their leggs and 
thighs, some their liver, lungs, lights and eyes. And for to make the 
shene the odder, some curs' d Father, Mother, Sister, and Brother. 

Saturday, 12th. Wind weather and course as before, we are now 
past the skirts of the Bay of Biscay and entred into the Atlantick Ocean, 
going at the rate of 8 knots per houre. 

Sum/ay, 13th. Wind at S. S. E. course V. B. S. at 1 1 AM Mod- 
erate weather, let out all reefs, at noon in Latitude 44 North per ob- 
servation. This afternoon got most of sick and ailing to deck the num- 
ber of which I cannot really now ascertain. But I thank God I have as 
yet kept my health weel. At 3 pm there was two servants put in Irons 
for wanting other than what was served. But they were soon released on 
their asking pardon and promising to behave better. 

Sunday, 2'/th. Wind, weather, and course as yesterday, at 8 AM 
got up all hammocks and the sick likways they being now in number 
about 37, there being th[ree] sick in our mace Viz' Stewart, Burnet, and 
the Yorkshire Cooper, at noon we all betwixt decks cleand out, and 
washed with wineggar. 

Thursday, jTst. Wind weather and course as before. The sick are 
now increased to the number of fifty betwixt decks, besides three in the 
steerage Viz' two seamen and a passanger. 

Sunday, April jd. Wind weather and course as before. Last night 
Alexf Stewart was so high in the fever that I sat up with him all night, 
and Burnet and the Cooper are still verry bad, but not so high as Stewart. 
This day the Cap? ordered some Cock and hen to be killed and fresh 
broth made for the sick. 

Munday, 4th. Wind weather and course still as before and jogging 
on from 4 to 6 knots at an average per houre. at 5 pm I was oblidged to 
get Stewart blister'd and sat up again all night with him, having become 
his nurse for Country sake he being the first in the Mace that was taken 
ill, and I was not sure how soon it might be my own fate. But thank 
God I am as yet well and hearty. This night I supped on a dish called 
Scratchplatters. it is made of biscuits broack small and soacked in water 
until they are soft, and then Winegar, oile, salt, and Onions cut small 
put to it, and supped with spoons. 

Wednesday, 6th. ... I have wore no Britches nor stockins since 
we got into the trade winds' only a pair of long trousers down to my 
buckles. And this day having put on a shorter pair untill my longest 

' Scene. 

^Lat. this day 27° 37' N. On the tenth they were near Barbadoes. 



Diary of John Harroiver 75 

pair was wash'd, I got both my Ancles burned by the sun, it is so verry 
hot here. 

Tuesday, igth. . . . This day I brought up M' Jones ' Journall for 
five days baclc, also Cap! Bovvers Journall for four days back and at same 
time begged me to mark the Logg Book and ordred that Whoever hade 
the charge of watch to aquant me what the ship went per Logg &c. 

Thursday, 21st. This morning a young lad, one of the serv? being 
verry ill with the Fever and Ague, he begged me to apply to Mr. Jones 
the Cheif Mate, and told me he cou'd give him something that would 
cure him ;_ Mr. Jones first desired me to give him a Womite and then 
wrote the following lines on a slip of paper and after folding it up gave 
it to me, to see it tyed up in the corner of his handkirchif or Cravat and 
wear it at his breast next his skin with strick charge not to look at it 
himself nor let any other person see it or look at it untill he was got wel. 
The words are as follows. 

When Jesus saw the Cross he trembled. 
The Jews said unto him why tremblest thou, 
You have neither got an Ague nor a fever. 
Jesus Answered and said unto them 
I have neither got an Ague nor a fever 
But whosoever keepeth my words 
Shall neither have an Ague nor a fever. 

Mr. Jones told me when he gave me the above copy it [was] a ser- 
tain cure for the fever and Ague, the paitient being first womited and 
then wearing the lines as above directed. But if they show it to any or 
look at it themselves it will have no effect. 

Freiday, 22d. This day I was seased with a sever Cold and Aching 
in my bones. But I thank God I am weel car'd for and has every thing 
sent me from the Cabin I can desire. 

Wednesday, 2jth. This morning I am fairly got the better of my 
cold and the Aching in my bones and am able to stir about. ... At 7 
pm we made Cape Henry and the Coast plain, we then highesed our flagg 
for a Pillot Boat and at pm we hade four Pillot boats along side and 
Cap' Bowrs took one M' Cooper who brought us within the Capes, and 
to an Anchor at 10 pm where we lay all night. 

Thursday, 28th. At 7 AM the Pillot wegh'd Anchor and wrought 
the ship up to Hampton Roads where we came to an Anchor at 10 AM. 
This morning I was employ' d in Making out a Clean list of the servants 
names and Business and age, and how soon I was done " Cap! Bowers 
went ashore in the Pillot boat to Hamton on Elizabeth river, we have 
some goods to put out before we leave this place, at night, a deal of 
Thunder, lightning and rain. 

Monday, May 2d. Wind as before, fine fair warm weather, got out 
the rest of the goods that was for Hampton, at 2 pm the Cap* Carried 

' James Jones, chief mate, then sick. * / ^, ^ as soon as I was done. 



76 Doanncnts 

five serv" ashore to Hampton in order to sell their Indentures, But re- 
turned again at Midnight with [out] selling any more but one Boat 
Builder, he brought onb'! with him four Barrells Virginia Pork and one 
Puncheon D° rum, and 3 live hogs. 

Tuesday, 3d. Wind at W. N. W. fine moderate weather, at 6 AM 
weigh' d Anchor from Hampton Roads, and stood out to sea untill we 
made the Entry of Rappahannock river, which we did at 10 AM, pro- 
ceeding up the same for Fredericksburgh. at 6 pm came to an anchor at 
Arrabanna. ' 

Frciday, 6th. Wind as before, at 4 AM got under saile and stood 
up the river and at 9 AM passed by the Town of Hobshole^ and let it on 
our Larboard hand as we did the Town of Arrabanna. at Hobshole 
there was five Glasgow ships and an English Brigantine lying, at 2 pm 
we passed by Leedstown^ on our Starboard hand where there was a ship 
from London lying with Convicts, at night came to anchor about 6 Miles 
above Leedstown. 

SatiD'day, jtli. This morning thick weather, at 10 AM got under 
way and stood up to Port Royall on our Larboard hand where we arrived 
at 2 pm, The Cap! going ashore to change his Pillot, and at 4 pm re- 
turned with Another and we imediatly got under way again and got 
about 7 miles above Port Royall before dark, all along both sides of the 
River there is nothing to be seen but woods in the blossom, Gentlemens 
seats and Planters houses. 

Sunday, 8th. Early this morning died the old German, a man be- 
tween 60 and 70 years of age. at 5 AM weigh'd Anchor and tow'd and 
warped up, it being quite calm, at 9 AM was obliged to come to an 
Anchor, and ly untill the tide made, and then weigh'd and got about 3 
Miles above Port Morton where we lay all night, this forenoon we lost 
one of our live hogs, he Jumping overboard and swiming ashore and 
imediatly got into the woods, at night the Cap! carried the old German 
ashore and Burried him somewhere in the woods. 

Tuesday, loth. At 2 AM weigh'd and stood up with the tide, came 
to an anchor at 6 AM and lay untill Do. 8 when we weigh'd with a fair 
wind and got to our Moorings at 6 pm at the Toun of Fredericksburgh. 

Wednesday, nth. At 10 AM Both Coopers and the Barber from 
our Mace went ashore upon tryall. At night one Daniel Turner a serv' 
returned onb' from Liberty so drunk that he abused the Cap! and chief 
Mate and Boatswan to a verry high degree, which made to be horse 
whip' put in Irons and thumb screwed, on houre afterward he was un- 
thumbscrewed, taken out of the Irons, but then he was hand cuffed, and 
gagged all night. 

Thursday, 12th. All hands quite on board this day. Turner un- 
gagged But continoued in handcuffs. 

' Urbanna, in Middlesex County. 

^Hobb's Hole, in Richmond County. See Americ.\n Historical Review, V. 
313, 314, Journal of Philip Fithian, August 2 of this same year. 
^ Leeds, in Westmoreland. 



Diary of John Har rower 7 7 

Freiday, 13th. This forenoon put ashore here what bale goods we 
hade remaining onboard, in the afternoon Mr. Burnet, Stewart and 
myself went ashore on liberty to take a walk and see the Toun, who's 
principal street is about half an English Mile long, the houses generally 
at a little distance one from another, some of them being built of wood 
and some of them of brick, and all covered with wood in the form of 
sclates about four Inches broad, which when painted blue you wou'd not 
know it from a house sclated with Isedell sclate.' In this Toun the 
Church,'' the Counsell house, the Tolbooth the Gallows and the Pillory 
are all within 130 ydf of each other. The Market house is a large brick 
Building a litle way from the Church, here we drank some Bottles of 
beer of their own brewing and some bottles of Cyder for which we paid 
3tV per bottle of each., returned on board in the evening. Turner still 
in handcuffs. 

Miinday, i6th. This day severalls came onb'! to purchase serv'.' In- 
dentures and among them there was two Soul drivers, they are men 
who make it their business to go onW all ships who have in either Ser- 
vants or Convicts and buy sometimes the whole and sometimes a parcell 
of them as they can agree, and then they drive them through the Coun- 
try like a parcell of Sheep untill they can sell them to advantage, but 
all went away without buying any. 

Tuesday, i/tJi. This day M' Anderson the Merch' sent for me into 
the [cabin] and verry genteely told me that on my recomendations he 
would do his outmost to get me settled as a Clerk or bookeeper if not as 
a schoolmaster which last he told me he thought wou'd turn out more to 
my advantage upon being settled in a good famely. 

The ships crew and servants employed in getting ashore all the cask 
out of the hould, no sales th* day. 

Wednesday, i8th. This day the ships crew and servants imployed in 
getting out the ballast and unrigging the ship. One Cooper, one Black- 
smith and one Shoemaker were settled with Masters this day. 

Thursday, igt/i. One Farmer's time sold and one Cabinet Maker 
on tryall. 

Saturday, 21 sf. This day one M'. Cowly a man 'twixt fifty and sixty 
years of age, a serv!, also three sons of his their ages from eight to four- 
teen were all settled with one McDonald a Scotchman. 

Munday, 2jd. This morning a great number of Gentlemen and 
Ladies driving into Town it being an annuall Fair' day and tomorrow 
the day of the Horse races, at 11 AM M"^ Anderson begged to settle as 
a schoolmaster with a friend of his one Colonel Daingerfield* and told 

' Easdale or Eisdale, a small island among the Hebrides, entirely composed of slate, 
and at this time famous for its quarries. 

2 Of the parish of St. George. 

3 A law of 1738 (Hening, V. 82), ordered that fairs should be held at Fredericks- 
burg twice a year for the sale of "cattle, victuals, provisions, goods, wares and mer- 
chandizes." The law, continued from time to time, had last been renewed in 1769. 

* Col. William Daingerfield of Belvidera was the son of Edwin Daingerfield and 
Mary Bassett, daughter of Col. William Bassett of Eltham. The Bassetts were near of 



78 Documents 

me he was to be in Town tomorrow, or perhaps tonight, and how soon 
he came' he shou'd aquant me. at same time all the rest of the servants 
were ordred ashore to a tent at Fredericksb? and severall of their Inden- 
tures were then sold, about 4 pm I was brought to Colonel Dainger- 
field, ' when we imediatly agreed and my Indenture for four years was 
then delivered him and he was to send for me the next day. at same 
time ordred to get all my dirty Cloaths of every kind washed at his ex- 
pense in Toun ; at night he sent me five shillings onW by Cap! Bowers 
to keep my pocket. 

Tuesday, 24th. This morning I left the Ship at 6 AM having been 
sixteen weeks and six days on board her. I hade for Breackfast after I 
came ashore one Chappin^ sweet milk for which I paid 3^ Cur?, at 1 1 
AM went to see a horse race about a mille from Toun, where there was a 
number of Genteel Company as well as others, here I met with the 
Colonel again and after some talk with him he gave me cash to pay for 
washing all my Cloaths and something over. The reace was gain'd by a 
Bay Mare, a white boy ridder. There was a gray Mare started with the 
Bay a black boy ridder but was far distant the last heat.^ 

Wednesday, 2^fk. I Lodged in a Tavern last night and paid 7^ 
for my Bedd and 71 for my breackfast. this morning a verry heavy rain 
untill II AM. Then I rec'! my Linens &c. all clean washed and pack- 
ing every thing up I went onboard the ship and Bought this Book for 
which I paid i8d. Stf. I also bought a small Divinity book called the 
Christian Monitor and a spelling book, both at 7-I- and an Arithmetick 
at i/6d. all for my Acco'. 

Thursday, 26th. This day at noon the Colonel sent a Black with a 
cuple of Horses for me and soon after I set out on Horseback and aravied 
at his seat of Belvidera about 3 pm and after I hade dined the Colonel 
took me to a neat little house at the upper end of an Avenue of planting 
at 500 ydf from the Main house, where I was to keep the school, and 
Lodge myself in it. 

This place is verry pleasantly situated on the Banks of the River Rap- 
pahannock about seven miles below the Toun of Fredericksburgh and the 
school's right above the Warff so that I can stand in the door and pitch 
a stone onboard of any ship or Boat going up or coming doun the river. 
Freiday, 2jtk. This morning about 8 AM the Colonel delivered his 
three sons to my Charge to teach them to read write and figure, his 
oldest son Edwin 10 years of age, intred into two syllables in the spelling 
book, Bathourest [Bathurst] his second son six years of age in the Alpha- 
bete and William his third son 4 years of age does not know the letters. 

Itin to Martha Washington. Col. Daingerfield's grandfather was William Daingerfield, 
who married Elizabeth Bathurst, daughter of Lancelot Bathurst of Virginia, fifth son of 
Sir Edward Bathurst of Sussex, England. 
' /. e., as soon as he came. 

2 A Scottish measure, about equivalent to an American quart. 

3 The Fredericksburg races were by this time a long-established institution. See 
Mr. W. G. Stanard's notes on Virginia horse-racing in the Virginia Magazine, II. 293- 
305- 



Diary of John Narrower 79 

he has likeways a Daughter whose name is Hanna Basset Years of age. 
Soon after we were all sent for to breackfast to which we hade tea, 
Bread, Butter and cold meat and there was at table the Colonel, his Lady, 
his Children, the housekeeper and myself. At 11 AM the Colonel and 
his Lady went some where to pay a visite, he upon horseback and she in 
her Charriot. At 2 pm I dined with the Housekeeper the Children and 
a stranger Lady, at 6 pm I left school, and then I eat plenty of fine 
strawberries, but they neither drink Tea in the afternoon nor eat any 
supper here for the most part. My school Houres is from 6 to 8 in the 
morning, in the forenoon from 9 to 12 and from 3 to 6 in the afternoon. 
Sunday, 2gth. There is no church nearer Belvidera than Fredericks- 
burgh, and for want of a sadle I was oblidged to stay at home all day and 
when I was alone in the school I thought on the following verses. 



In Virginia now I am, at Belvidera settled, 

but may they ever mercy find, who hade the cause 

that I am from my sweet wife seperated 

And Oblidged to leave my Infant Children Fatherless. 

2'1 
As a schoolmaster, I am here ; 
And must for four years, remain so ; 
May I indeavour the Lord to fear, 
And always his commands do. 

3" 
For in Gods strength I do rely, 
that he at his appointed time. 
Will bring me back my family, 
if I his precepts do but mind. 

4'." 
O May my God provide for them, 
Who unto me are near and dear ; 
tho they afar off" me are from 

Jesus keep them in thy fear. 

S'-' 
Do thou enable me to labour, 
and my fortune do thou mind ; 
that what I get by thy favour, 

1 to my family may send. 

O Lord my God do thou them save 

from dangers and from death 

And may they food and rayment have 

and for the same may thankfull be while they have breath. 



8o DociDuents 



And may we all ever gloryfie thy name 
and loud thy praises sing 
and unto all make known the fame 
of Jehova our almighty king, 
g.i, 

O ever blessed be the Lord, 

the King of all the earth is he, 

let us exalt his name with one Accord 

and thankfuU unto him be ye. Finis. 

After dinner I took a walk about a Miles distance from the house 
along the highway, and by the road side seed a Corn Mill and another 
pretty house called Snow Creek belonging to the Colonel. 

Tuesday, jist. This day there was about fifty white Ewes and 
Lambs feeding 'twix the main house and the school door and so tame 
that they wou'd come and look in at the door and see what we was doing, 
the lambs here are as large at this date as in Zetland at Michelsmass, being 
of the english bread. 

]Ved>u'siiay, June ist. This day there was prayers in all the Churches 
in Virginia ' on Acco' of the disagreement at present betwixt great 
Brittain and her Colonies in North America, On Acco! of their not 
agreeing to pay a duty on Tea laid on them by the british parliment and 
the Bostonians destroying a Quantity of Tea belonging to the British East 
India Comp- in 1773. 

Freiday, 3d. This day I eat green pease at dinner, this being the 
last of them this season here. 

Wednesday, 8th. This day I eat plenty of fine ripe Cherries brought 
out of the woods this morning by the Colonel. 

Freiday, loth. Rec'' two pair fine new brown thread stockins. 
Below is an Inventory of the Cloaths &c I brought to Belvidera with me 
Viz. 

One Superfine Brown Cloath Coat full mounted. 

One D° vest Coat. 

One floored' silk D° 

One fine marsyled ^ D" 

One Brown Duffel D" 

One pair new black Stockins Britches 

One pair new Doe skin D° 

One pair flannen Drawers. 

One pair Osenburgh * D° 

■The fast-day decreed by the Virginia House of Burgesses. See Jefferson's autobi- 
ography. 

2 Flowered. 

3 Marseilles. 
* Osnabiirg. 



Diary of John Harroiver 8i 

Six Ruffled Shirts 
five plain white D" 
One Cheque D" 
One Blue Cloath Jacket 
Seven Musline Stocks 
One Black silk Cravate 

One pair Ribbed Cotton Stockins f Severall other 

Ten pair worsted D" Articles besides 

One new Hat and one D° Wigg. what are here 

Five pocket Napkins. I mentioned but 

two hand Towels are too tedeous 

two pair Trousers \ to mention. 

One pair Shoes ; with Pinchback shoe, stock and 
knee buckles. 

One trunk, with fine lock and hinges. 

Saturday, nth. At 9 AM left the school and went a fishing on the 
River with the Colonel his eldest [Son] and another Gentleman in two 
Canoes, Mrs. Dangerfield another Lady and the other two boys mett us 
at Snow Creek in the Chair at 2 pm when we all dined on fish under a tree. 

Sunday, 12th. This day at Church at Fredericksburgh and at same 
time settled a Correspondance at Glasgow for getting letters from home, 
by their being put under cover to Messrs. Anderson and Horsburgh 
Merch'." in D" and the expence charged to Mr. Glassel ' Merch \ in Fred- 
ericksb? Virginia. 

Tuesday, 14th. This morning entred to school William Pattie son 
to John Pattie wright, and Salley Evens daughter to Thomas Evens Planter. 
This day I wrote my wife a particular Acco' of all my transactions since 
I wrote her from London 26'.'' Jan! last, the Coppy of which I have by me.' 

Thursday, i6th. This eveng the Colonel told me he hade about 400 
Acres of land in wheat and as much in Indian Corn every year and that 
he comonly exported about 3600 bushels of wheat every year besides 
serving his own Family. But that he did not expect to have above the 
one half th". year owing to a strong frost they had in Aprile last. 

Freiday, lyth. This day rec!" two pair new Rushia drill britches and 
two new short Coats of Brown Holland. 

Munday, 20th. This morning entred to school Philip and Dorothea 
Edge's Children of M' Benjaman Edge Planter. Same day Colonel 
Dangerfield began to cut down his wheat, which they do with a syth. 

Tuesday, 21st. This day M' Samuel Edge Planter came to me and 
begged me to take a son of his to school who was both deaf and dum, 
and I consented to try what I cou'd do with him. 

'John Glassell was a Scotsman who came to Fredericksburgh and became a promi- 
nent merchant there. A wharf there is still known as Glassell' s. Ke returned to Scot- 
land at the beginning of the Revolutionary War. His only daughter, whose marriage- 
portion was lifty thousand pounds sterling, married in 1820 Lord John Campbell, after- 
ward the seventh duke of Argyll ; and was the mother of the late duke. 

^ See its text under August 7, post. 
VOL. VI. — 6. 



82 Docitmcnts 

Thursday, 2jtf. This day entred to school John Edge son to the 
above named M' Sam: Edge, he is a lad about 14 years of age and is both 
deaf and dum.' 

Saturday, 2jth. This afternoon I went and took a walk in the wheat 
field and under a tree I filled all my pockets of as fine walnuts as ever I 
eat, But so hard shell that I was oblidged to have a hammer to breack them. 

Sunday, 26th. After Breackfast I took a walk 3 Miles to Mr. Edge's, 
the dum lad's fathers where I dined and drank some grogg and returned 
home in the afternoon, at night I had a small Congregation of Negroes, 
learng their Catechisim and hearing me read to them. 

Sunday, July jd. At home all the forenoon, in the afternoon went 
to see One Mr. Richards an Overseer and his wife where I eat plenty of 
honney out of the Comb, it being taken out of a Beehive in a tree in the 
woods last night. 

Freiday, 8th. After school houres I went two Miles to see the Taylor 
who made my Cloaths he being a Brittoner but married to a Buckskine,^ 
and I found his wife and Daughters drinking tea, at which I joyned them, 
The Taylor not being at home. 

Tuesday, 12th. Sold the spelling book that I bought Onb'' the 
Planter 25"' May last, and got the same money for it that I paid for the 
Christian Monitor and it. 

Saturday, i6th. This afternoon the Colonel finished the cutting 
down of His wheat which cost of wages to hired people ^23 : 10 Curr- 
besides their victualls and drink. 

ATunday, i8th. This morning entred to School Lewis Richards. 
Same day I put on a pair of new shoes made in Fredericksburgh of Eng- 
lish calf leather the price of them 12/6 Cur7. Same day gave one pair 
of old worsted stockins for 22 foot of Gum plank 10 Inch broad and one 
thick to make me a Chest. 

Tuesday, igth. On Freiday 15"' Ins' John Edge the Dumb lad left 
the school at 6 pm and has not returned since. 

Wednesday, 20th. On Munday 4'.'' Ins' at 6 pm William Pattie left 
the school and has not returned since. 

Munday, 25th. Nothing remarkable. Jn? Edge return*! to school. 

Sunday, August jth. This afternoon meeting accidentaly with a 
Gentleman here who was on his way to London I wrote my wife a few 
lines by him having wrote her fully 14'!' June last but having omitted to 

' Nothing in the diary surpasses in interest the entries relating to John Edge. He 
was, in fact, so far as is known, the first deaf mute instructed in America. No 
instance so early occurs in Dr. Alexander Graham Bell's " Historical Notes concerning the 
Teaching of Speech to the Deaf," in the Association Review for Februaiy, 1900, and sub- 
sequent numbers. John Boiling of Cobbs, Virginia, the first American deaf mute to receive 
an education, was sent to John Braidwood's school in Edinburgh in 1771, and did not 
return till 1783. What methods Ilarrower used, we can only guess. It is highly improb- 
able that he knew those of Braidwood, who carefully kept them secret ; and Cobbs was 
far away. I'or subsequent details of Harrower's experiment, see the entries of July 19 
and 25, 1774, March 18 and May 20, 1775, but especially the letter of December 6, 1774. 

^/. €., American. 



Diary of John Harrower 83 

insert the Coppy in it's proper place I now do it here before I insert the 
coppy of my second Letter to her from this country. 

Belvidera 14'.'' June 1774. 
My Dearest Life 

I wrote you from London on AVednesday 26'.'' Jan'' last which Im 
hopefull came safe to hand, and found you and my dear Infants in perfect 
health, and am hopefull this will find both you and them in the same 
state, As I am at present and have been I bless God since I left you. You 
will remember when I wrote you last, I informed you that I was to go for 
Baltimore in Maryland, But I altred my design in that and came, here 
it being a more healthy pleace. I sailed from London on Freiday the 4'!' 
Feb? last, and arrived in Hampton roads in Virginia on the 27 April, hav- 
ing been a Month of the time at Spithead in England. As to particulars 
of our Voyage &'" it would take up too much room here to insert it. 
But I have a Journal of every days transactions and remarcable Occur- 
ances since the morning I left you which will be amusing to you when 
please God we are spared to meet, for I design to see and prepare a way 
for you all in this Country how soon I am able. — I shall now aquant you 
w' my situation in this Country. I am now settled with on Colonel W™ 
Dangerfield Esq' of Belvidera, on the Banks of the River Rappahannock 
about 160 miles from the Capes or sea mouth, and seven Miles below the 
Toun of Fredericksburgh. My business is to teach his Children to read 
write and figure, Edwin his oldest son about 8 years of [age] Bathurest 
his second 6 years of age and William his youngest son 4 years of age. 
he has also a Daughter whose name is Hanna Basset. I came to this 
place on Thursday 26"" May and next morning I received his three sons 
into my charge to teach, the two youngest boys I got in A : B : C. and 
the oldest Just begun to syllab and I have now the two youngest spell- 
ing and the oldest reading. I am obliged to teach in the English method 
which was a little aquard to me at first but now quite easy. I am also 
obliged to talk english the best I can,' for Lady Dangerfield speacks 
nothing but high english, and the Colonel hade his Education in Eng- 
land and is a verry smart Man. As to my agreement it is as follows Viz' I 
am obliged to continue with Col! Dangerfield for four years if he insists 
on it, and for teaching his own children I have Bed, Board, washing and 
all kind of Cloaths during the above time, and for what schoolars I can 
get more than his Children I have five shillings currency per Quarter for 
each of them, which is equall to four shillings sterling, and I expect ten 
or twelve to school next week, for after I hade been here eight days and 
my abilities and my behavior sufficiently tried, the Colonel rode through 
the neighbouring Gentlemen and Planters in order to procure scollars for 
me, so that I hope in a short time to make something of it. And as I 
have no Occasion to spend a farthing on myself every shill! I make shall 
be carefully remitted you, for your support and my Dear Infants. But I 

'The Norse language was not quite extinct in Shetland in 1774, according to Low, 
Totir through the Islands of Orkney and Shetland, and the ordinary speech of the island- 
ers was a dialect much mixed with Norse words and forms. 



84 Docti7nc7its 

must be some time here before any thing can be done, for you know 
every thing must have a beginning. 

As to my living I eat at their own table, and our witualls are all 
Dressed in the English taste, we have for Breackfast either Coffie or 
Jaculate,' and warm Loaf bread of the best floor, we have also at table 
warm loaf bread of Indian corn, which is extreamly good but we use the 
floor bread always at breackfast. for Dinner smoack'd bacon or what 
we cal pork ham is a standing dish either warm or cold, when warm we 
have greens with it, and when cold we have sparrow grass, we have also 
either warm roast pigg, Lamb, Ducks, or chickens, green pease or any 
thing else they fancy. As for Tea there is none drunk by any in this 
Government since i'.' June last, nor will they buy a 2'" worth of any 
kind of east India goods, which is owing to the difference at present be- 
twixt the Parliment of great Britton and the North Americans about lay- 
ing a tax on the tea ; and I'm afraid if the Parliment do not give it over 
it will cause a total revolt as all the North Americans are determined to 
stand by one another, and resolute on it that they will not submit. I 
have the news paper sent me to school regularly every week by the Col'. 
— Our family consists of the Col', his Lady and four Children a house- 
keeper an Overseer and myself all white. But how many blacks young 
and old the Lord only knows for I belive there is about thirty that works 
every day in the field besides the servants about the house ; such as Gard- 
ner, livery men and pages. Cooks, washer and dresser, sewster and wait- 
ing girle. They wash here the whitest that ever I seed for they first 
Boyle all the Cloaths with soap, and then wash them, and I may put on 
clean linen every day if I please. My school is a neate litle House 20 
foot long and 12 foot vi^ide and it stands by itself at the end of an 
Avenue of planting about as far from the main house as Rob! Forbes's^ is 
from the burn, and there comes a bonny black bairn every morning to 
clean it out and make my bed, for I sleep in it by myself I have a verry 
fine feather bed under me, and a pair of sheets, a thin fold of a Blanket 
and a Cotton bed spread is all my bed cloaths, and I find them just 
enough, as for myself I supose you wou'd scarce know me now, there 
being nothing either brown, blew, or black about me but the head 
and feet, I being Dressed in short cloath Coat, vest Coat, and britches 
all made of white cotton without any lyning and thread stockins and 
wearing my own hair curled round like a wigg. at present a suite of 
Cloaths costs five and twenty shillings here of making which I really 
think verry high. 

I was Sunday last at Fredericksburgh at church and I then settled a 
safe Correspondance for your letters to come to me, and shall give you 

• Chocolate. 

'In the " Annals of the County of Zetland ", referred to in the introductory hnes, 
sitpra^ this entry is to be found, under date of 1767 : ** Compeared Robert Forbes and 
James Forbes, both Operative Masons in Lerwick, Who undertook to furnish and work 
all the Free Stone necessary in the foresaid Intended Tolbooth," etc Passages, in 
the letters of December 6, 1774, August 28 and September 8, 1775, which see, post, 
serve to identify the former of these two brothers with Harrower's former friend. 



Diary of Jolin Hai'roiver 85 

the proper directions below. As for myself I thank God I want for 
nothing that is necessary, But it brings tears from my eyes to think of 
you and my infants when at the same time it is not in my power at 
present to help you. But how soon I am able you may depend upon it. 
I have litle else to say at present ; only may the great God who governs 
all things wisely suport you and my Infants, and guide and direct you 
in all your ways. 

I shall write you again soon and when you write me direct my letters 
as follows Vizi to John Harrower at the seat of Colonel Wf Dangerfield 
Esqf of Belvidera near Fredericksburgh on Rappahannock River Vir- 
ginia ; Then you must take half a sheet of paper and write another letter 
the contents of which may be as follows Viz' Gentlemen, being desired 
by my husband to send his letters under cover to you. You will please 
forward the inclosed by the first ship bound for any part in Virginia and 
charge Mf Glassel Merchtl in Fredericksburgh with the expence you are 
at ; I am yours &':" Signed A. H. After you have closed my letter and 
directed it as above. You will inclose it in the above, and direct it as 
follows To Mess" Anderson and Horsburgh Merch'." in Glasgow. You 
must get some person to fold up your letters properly and on who writes 
a clear Distinct hand to direct them. Pray write me verry particularly 
how it is with you and my D' Infants, likeways any thing that is remarc- 
able in the Country. I shall conclude this with offering my Comp'.' to 
all enquiring freinds if I have any and my sinceer prayers both evening 
and morn!^ for you and my Children. My Blessing to you all, is all at 
present from my Dearest Jewell your ever aff'.'' Husband untill Death. 
Signed, John Harrower. 

Addressed, To Mrs. John Harrower in Lerwick, Zetland. 

2"^ Letter from Virginia. 

Belvider,\ 7 Aug' 1774. 
My Dearest Life 

1 wrote you verry fully 14"' June last to which I refer you it being 
verry full, but meeting Accidentally Just now with a Gentleman bound to 
London, I have just time to write you a few lines while he is at Dinner 
to let you know that I am still in good health I thank God for it, and 
am hopefuU this will find you and my D' Infants the same. I gave you 
verry full Directions in my last how to write me but in case this should 
come to hand before it, I shall here again repeat them. — See Directions 
page 63.' — If this or my other letter comes to hand before the Pacquet 
leaves Zetland for the last time this winter ' pray do not faill to write 

1 A reference to the preceding page of the manuscript book. 

2 The compiler of the eighth edition oi A Tour through the Island of Great Brit- 
ain, London, 1778, says, IV. 324, that the Shetlanders are deprived "of all foreign cor- 
respondence from October to April, during which time they hear nothing of what passes 
in other parts of the world. A known instance of this was, that though the Revolution 
[of 1688] happened to begin in November, they knew nothing of it till the May follow- 
ing." This is taken from Brand's Brief Description of Orkney and Zetland, 1701, 
(Pinkerton, III. 773) but was doubtless practically true seventy years later; for it will 
be observed, under date of May 27, 1775, infra, that Harrower's first letter from his wife, 
in answer to his letter of June 14, 1774, is dated March I, 1775. 



86 Docuiiicnis 

me verry fully by her. I have Just time to aquant you that I am settled 
here as a Schoolmaster and can really say with great truth that I never 
lived a genteel regulare life untill now. I shall write you again soon 
verry fully and untill then I am with my blessing to you my Dear and 
my Dear Infants Your ever Aff'.° husb'! untill death — Signed — John 
Harrower. 

Adressed, To Mrs. John Harrower, Lerwick, Zetland. 

Tuesday, August i6th. Expecting a visit of one Mf Kennedy an 
Edinburgher, a Cooper now in Fredericksburgh, I this day sent to Toun 
for a Quart of the Best Vestindia Rum which cost me Eighteen pence Vir- 
ginia Currancy. 

Wednesday, ijih. This evening entred to school Thomas Brooks 
Mr Spotswoods' carpenter in order to learn Writing and Arithmetick at 
nights and on Sundays.^ 

Freiday, jgfh. This day at noon Col! Will"" Daingerfield finished 
his wheat harvest by getting the last of it brought home and stacked. 

Sunday, 21st. At home teaching Brooks. Nothing remarcable. 

Munday, 22d. This afternoon Coll Daingerfield begun to sow wheat 
again for the next )'ears crope. They sow their wheat here in the field 
where there Indian Corn is growing and plough it into the ground, so that 
the Corn and wheat both Occopy the ground from this date untill Jan- 
uary next and then the Corn is cut down. 

Tuesday, 2jd. This day at noon was finished at one of Col! Dain- 
gerfields Barns a new Machine for beating out of wheat, it is a circle of 
60 feet diameter in the center of which their is a paul [pole ?] fixed in 
the ground from which there goes three beams that reach the outer edge 
of the great circle and betwixt the outer ends of them are fixed four 
rollers, each roller having 320 spokes in it, they are 6 feet long, viz! the 
rollers, and goes round upon a floor of 3 Inch plank of 7 feet long from 
the outer edge of the great circle and round the outer ends of the floor 
plank there is a thin plank upon it's edge and round the inner edge the 
same which keeps in the wheat, the Machine is drawn round by 4 Horses 
and beats out 100 Bushels of wheat every day. It was begun i" instant. 

Sunday, 28th. At home all day teaching Brooks. 

Sunday, September nth. D° teaching Brooks, at i pm came M." Ken- 
nedy from Fredericksburgh here to see me and after we had dined we 
ended the Quart of Rum I Bought 16'!" Last M:\ 

Tuesday, October ^th. \Vent to Fredericksb? and seed a Horse Race 
for a Hundred Guineas, Gained by Mf Fitchews Horse.' 

' Presumably Alexander Spotswood of Newport, afterward brigadier-general ; grand- 
son of the famous governor. 

2 Mill's Diary shows, passim, how a Shetland minister of that day regarded the 
' ' Sabbath ' ' ; but it also shows that he could not induce all the islanders to observe it 
with the same strictness. 

'Sporting readers, if there are such among the votaries of history, will find the de- 
tails of these days' races, derived from the pages of the Virginia Gazette, in Mr. \V. G. 
Stanard's article already referred to, on Racing in Colonial Virginia, Virginia Maga- 



Diary of John Harrozuer 8/ 

IVednesday, jfh. This day a Horse race at Fredericksburg for Fifty- 
pound, and it was gain'd by a Horse belonging to Col! Tailo.' 

Thursday, 6th. This day a Horse race at Fredericksburg for Fifty 
pound, and it was gained by a Horse belonging to My Fitchew. 

Freiday, -jth. The race this day at Fredericksburg for Fifty pound 
was gained again by another Horse belonging to Mf Fitchew. 

Saturday, 8th. This day the races at Fredericksburg was finished 
and this night finishes the Puppet shows, roape dancings &c, which has 
continowed every night this week in town. I only seed the purse of a 
Hundred Guineas run for, and that day I hade the Misfortune to have 
my Horse, saddle and bridle stole from me, while I was doing some 
business in town. And I never could hear, nor get any intelligence of 
either of them again. 

Sunday, 2jd. At church but there was no sermon only prayers. This 
day I carried home a Westcoat with a silver sprig through a strip'd white 
satine and Padasoy silk, which I had formerly bought made as it was being 
nothing worse than new for 8/6 Virginia Currancy, and a Brass Inkholder 
with a penknife in it bought at i/6 C'.- 

Muiiday, jist. This morning two Carpenters was put to new weather 
board my house on the outside with featherage plank, and to new plaster 
it on the Inside with shell lime. 

Tuesday, November ist. This day Col! William Daingerfield finished 
sowing his Wheat, having sown in all this year \6o\ bushels. This day 
I eat extream good green Pease they being the second croap this season. 
In the afternoon they began to gather new corn and bro! home 8 Ba".' at 
night from looo Corn hills. 

Sunday, 2jth. This day at Church and heard Sermon by Mr. Muree' 
his text was in Hebrews 13'." Chap : and 18'!' verse. Bought a hanging 
lock for my Chest at 7^- Currancy. 

Rec!" from Colonel Daingerfield New Coat and veastcoat of Claret 
couler'd Duffel. 

Tuesday, December 6th. Wrote home. — 3d Letter from Virginia. 



zinc, II. 293-305. The first day's race, " Jockey Club Plate," lOO guineas, open to 
members only, was won by \Vm. Fitzhugh's Regulus, beating Alexander Spotswood's 
Eclipse, Mann Page's Damon, Wm. Brent's Figure, Wm. Fitzhugh's Master Stephen, 
and Moore Fauntleroy's Faithful Shepherdess. On the second day, a purse of £ 50, 
4 mile heats, was won by John Tayloe's Single Peeper. On the third day the " Town 
Purse,'" 4 mile heats, was won by Wm. Fitzhugh's Kitty Fisher. On the fourth 
day the "Town and Country Purse," 4 mile heats, was won by William Fitzhugh's 
Volunteer. These were the last of the great races at Fredericksburg. The Revolution 
was impending, and there was a general sentiment to the effect that racing should stop. 

1 Col. John Tayloe of Mt. Airy in Richmond County. See American Historical 
Review, V. 307. 

2 Currency. 

3 Rev. James Marye was rector of St. George's Parish from 1767 to 1780. He was 
the son of Rev. James Marye, the former rector, a Huguenot refugee. 



88 Documents 

Belvidera 6'!' Dec' i774- 

My Dearest Life, 

Since my aravil here 1 wrote you 14'!' 
June and 7'!' Aug! last to both which I shall partly refer you. I now rite 
you with a shaking hand and a feeling heart to enqair of your and my 
Df Infants welfare, this being the return of the day of the year on which 
I was obliged to leave you and my D' Infants early in the morning which 
day will be ever remembred by me with tears untill it shall please God 
to grant us all a happy meeting again. I trust in the mercies of a good 
God this will find you and my D' Infants in perfect health as I am and 
have been ever since I came here, for neither the heat in summer nor 
what I have as yet felt of the cold in winter gives me the least uneasiness 
I thank God for it. About 20 days ago I only laid aside my summer 
dress, and put on a suit of new Claret Coulerd Duffle neatly mounted but 
no lyning in the Coat only faced in the breasts. I wrote you in my first 
letter, that I was designed Please God to prepare a way for you and my 
Infants in this Country ; And I begg youU give me your thoughts fully 
upon it, in your first letter after receipt of this with respect to your 
moving here. If you do your method must be thus ; Take your Passage 
to Leith, from thence go to Glasgow and from that to Greenock where 
you will ship for this country. But this you are not to attemp untill I 
have your thoughts upon it and I send you a recomendation to a Merch' 
in Glasgow and cash to bear your expences. I have as yet only ten 
scollars One of which is both Deaff and Dumb and his Father pays me 
ten shilling per Quarter for him he has been now five M? with [me] and 
I have brought him tolerably well and understands it so far, that he can 
write mostly for anything he wants and understands the value of every 
figure and can work single addition a little, he is about fourteen years 
of age.' Another of them is a young man a house Carpenter who attends 
me every night with candle light and every Sunday that I don't go to 
Church for which he pays me fourty shillings a year. He is Carpenter for 
a gentleman who lives two miles from me and has Thirty pound a year, 
free bedd and boatd. 

The Col'" Children comes on pretty well, the Eldest is now reading 
verry distinctly in the Psalter according to the Church of England and the 
other two boys ready to enter into it ; the Coll and his Lady being ex- 
treamly well satisfied w! my Conduct in every respect ; On 31st Jully last 
M" Daingerfield was deliv! of a fourth son who is now my nameson. I am 
now verry impatient to hear from you and I [beg] of you not to slip a 
Packqut without writting me. Accord to the directions I formerly sent 
you which I shall again repeat in this for fear of my former letters being 
miscarried which I hope not ; The next time [I] write you I hope to be 
able to make you a small remittance. 

'The entries under March iS and May 20, 1775, seem to indicate that the experi- 
periment did not proceed beyond tlie date of thi.s letter. 



Diary of Jolm Harrowcr 89 

I would have at this time wrote your Brother M' Craigie,' for I truely 
belive his private good wishes to me was always sinceer, But I want to 
hear from you first by which I hope to learn how every one's pulse in 
your place beats towards me and his among the rest, which I hope you'll 
not fail to take notice of. — I now as far as my sheet of paper will allow 
me, for your Amusements and information, shall write you some of the 
news of this Western World, and first with respect to myself Know that 
I have not drunk a dish of Tea this six M°' past, nor have I drunk a dram 
of plain spirits this seven M" past, nor have I tasted broth or any kind 
of supping mate for the above time unless three or four times some soup ; 
Notwithstanding I want for nothing that I cou'd desire, and am only 
affraid of getting fatt, tho we seldom eat here but twice a day. for 
Breackfast we have always Coffie with plenty of warm loaf bread and fine 
butter, at 12 oClock when I leave school, I have as much good rum 
toddie as I chuse to drink, and for Dinner we have plenty of roast and 
boyld and good strong beer, but seldom eat any supper. There has been 
a hote War here this last summer betwixt the fronteer Countys of this 
Collony and the united tribes of the Shawaneses, Delevvars, Mingoes and 
Tawa Indians settled on the otherside of the Banks of the Ohio. On Mun- 
day morning lo'l' Oct' last a Deccisive Battle was fought at the mouth of 
the great Canhawa" Betwixt 15° of Augusta County troops under the Com- 
mand of Col' Cha' Lewis 800 of the troops belonging to Botitourt, Bedford 
and Fincastle County, under the Command of Coll Fleming and Col' Field ; 
The Battle began half an hour after sun up and continowed verry hot until 
after noon, when the above Indians being above 800 in number were 
put to flight. In this Action were killed the above Col! Cha! Lewis and 
Coll Field, Four Captains three subalterns and 44 private men. Col. 
Fleming was wounded three Captains four subalterns and 79 private 
men. The same evening after the Battle an express aravied at the Camp 
from Lord John Dunmore Governour of Virginia for this Division of the 
Army to Joyne him, he being then 75 Miles further up the Ohio on the 
Indian side with 600 more of the troops belonging to the foresaid Coun- 
tys, he then knowing nothing of the Battle. Next day this part of the 
Army decamp'd and when they hade Joyn'd His Lod'? All the Army 
march'd foreward in order to Burn and destroy the whole Indian Touns ; 
But when they were within three Miles of them, The Indians came out 
naked as they were born and Begged for Mercy and peace, they having 
lost above double the immber of men that we did in the late engage- 
ment. Accordingly peace was granted them on the following terms Vizi 
i" They are to deliver up all the white prisoners they have, next they are 
to deliver up somany of their principall men of each nation, to be keept 
as hostages for their good behavour in time to come, lastly they are to 

• Mrs. Harrower's brother, Captain James Craigie, to whom a letter printed later is 
addressed, was a leading merchant of Lerwick. In the " Annals of the County of Zet- 
land," referred to in the introduction, supra, he appears as appointed in 1763 to be over- 
seer and superintendent of the building of the new tolboolh. In 1 766, however, he is 
permitted to resign, his health having recently become impaired. 

^ The celebrated battle of Point Pleasant. 



90 Documents 

pay the whole expence of the war in land at three pound per M Acres. 
So much for Indian news. 

You no doubt have heard of the present disturb! Betwixt Great Brit- 
ain and the Collonys in N. America, Owing to severall Acts of Parliment 
latly made greatly infringing the rights and Liberties of the Americans, 
and in order to enforce these Acts, The Harbour and Toun of Boston are 
at present blockt up by a fleet and armie under the Command of Gen'. 
Gage. The Americans are determined to Act with Caution and prudence 
in this affair, and at same time are resolved not to lose an inch of their 
rights or liberties, nor to submit to these Acts. And in order to enforce 
a repeal of them, A Generall Congress was held at Philadelphia by Dele- 
gates from the following Provinces Viz! New Hampshire, Massachusetts 
Bay, Rode Island and Providence Plantations, Connicticut, New York, 
New Jersey, Pennsylvania, The Countys of Newcastle, Kent, and Sussex 
on Delewar, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. 
The Delegates were chosen from the Houses of Burges of each of the 
above Collonys and met on the 5"' Sept! last and continued sitting untill 
the last of Octr And it is resolved that they will allow no goods to be im- 
ported into America from Great Britain, Ireland, or any of the Islands 
thereto belonging a" the i'.' Ins' Nor will they export from America to 
Great Britain or Ireland or any of the Islands thereto belonging any 
goods after the i!' Decf 1775 during which time any that are indebted to 
Great Britain may pay up their ballances. Ma[n]y and pretty are the re- 
solves of August Assembly, but room wou'd fail me here to insert them. 
By the Congress the Bostonians are desired not to leave the Toun nor to 
give any offence to Gen! Gage or the troops under his Command, But if 
he or they offers to commit the least Hostielyties in order to enforce any 
to the Obedience of these Acts, they are to repel force by force and the 
Bostonians can raise in their Collony in 24 Hours warning ods of 60 M 
men well disiplined and all readdy provided w! arms and amunition. And 
the resolves of the Congress every one of the above Collonys and each 
man in every Collony are determined to abide by. And it is my oppin- 
ion that the laboring part and poor of Boston are as well supplied at 
present by controbutions sent free to them from the other Collonys as 
when their trade was oppen. M! Daingerfield this year for his own 
hand gives them fifty Bushels of wheat and One Hundred Bushels of In- 
dian Corn, By which ye may Judge of the rest.' 

The 19"' August last, M! Daingerfield finished his wheat hearvest and 
began to plow and sow wheat again for the next crop 22 said M° and 
after sowing 260 Bushels finished it the i'.' of Nov!, they are now gath- 
ering Indian Corn of which he will have better than 4000 bushels 3000 
of which he will Use for his Nigers and horses, the rest for sale ; so much 
for American and Plantation news the Veracity of which you may depend 
upon and may show the same to any of your freinds or well wishers. 

1 There is on record at the Virginia State Library a list of contributors to',this supply 
of the Bostonians. It embraces the names of many well-known men of the day, and the 
gifts range from one barrel of com up. 



Diary of John Harrower 9 1 

Your directions for me is to Jn° Harrower at the seat of Col! Will"' 
Daingerfield Esqf of Belvidera near Fredericksburgh Rappahannock River 
Virginia, and then inclose it in a letter to Mess'; Anderson and Horse- 
burgh Merch? in Glasgow and desire them to foreward the same under 
Cover to M.' John Glassel Mer! in Fredericksb^ their Correspondent who 
will pay all charges for my acco'. . — -Pray my Dearest let me know what my 
D' Boys and Girle are doing. I hope Jock ' and George are still at school 
and I begg of you to strain every nerve to keep them at it untill I am 
able to assist you, for he who has got education will always gain Bread 
and to spare, and that in a genteel way in some place or other of the 
World. I supose Betts is at home with yourself, but pray keep her tight 
to her seam and stockin and any other Housold affairs that her years are 
capable of and do not bring her up to Idleness or play or going about from 
house to house which is the first inlet in any of the sex to laziness and 
vice. Send me an Acco ' of their Ages from the Bible which ye may do 
verry short by saying Jo : Born day Nov. 1762 Geo : Born &'." 

1 yet hope please God, if I am spared, some time to make you a 
Virginian Lady among the woods of America which is by far more pleas- 
ent than the roaring of the raging seas round abo't Zetland, And yet to 
make you eat more wheat Bread in your old age than what you have done 
in your Youth. But this I must do by carefuUness, industry and a Close 
Application to Business, which ye may take notice of in this letter I am 
doing Sunday as well as Saturday nor will I slip an honest method nor 
an hour whereby I can gain a penny for yours and my own advantage. 

There grows here plenty of extream fine Cotton which after being 
pict clean and readdy for the cards is sold at a shilling the pound ; and I 
have at this time a great high Girl Carline as Black as the . . . spinning 
some for me for which I must pay her three shillings the pound for spin- 
ning it for she must do it on nights or on Sunday for any thing I know 
notwithstanding she's the Millers wife on the next plantation. But Im 
determined to have a webb of Cotton Cloath According to my own mind, 
of which I hope you and my infants shall yet wear apart ; I cou'd write 
to you for a week for it gives me pleaser while I am writting to you. But 
as room fails me I must conclude with offering my good wishes to your 
Broth';, W. and M'." Vance, ^ Mf and M'." Forbes 'and Mr Ferguson* if 
deserving at your hand with my Comp'.' to all who asks for me. And my 

' In iSlo a J. Harrower, Caledonia Lodge of Masons, Edinburgh, affiliated at Lodge 
Morton, Lerwick, and he was appointed Proxy Master of the latter in 1815. This may 
have been our Harrower' s son. 

2 James Vance seems to liave been one of the most prominent and most esteemed men 
in Lerwick. He was land-waiter and postmaster for the government, and the kirk ses- 
sions records show him as precentor, and afterward as session clerk, kirk treasurer and 
elder. He was warmly interested in the promotion of education and other good works. 
His wife was Barbara Craigie, sister of Mrs. Harrower, and of Captain James Craigie. 

3 See note 2, on p. 84, supra. 

'William Ferguson was married to Ann Ross, sister of Margaret Ross, wife of 
James Craigie. He was supervisor of excise at Lerwick, and was a native of Thurso in 
Caithness. 



92 Documents 

sinceer prayers to God for you and my D! Children and beliye me to be 
ever while I have breath, My Dearest Jewell, your Aff '? husb'! till death. 
Signed J. H. Addressed To M'." John Harrower in Lerwick Zetland By 
Edinburgh, North Britain. 

Saturday, loth. This day after 12 Oclock rode to Town and deliv* 
my letter dated 6'.'' Ins! to M' John Glassell to be forewarded to Britain 
per first ship. Bought i PadLock at 1/ Curr) and i Doz" Vest buttons 
silver plated at 1/ Curr! and pocket expence 9'.' Currf . 

IVi'dnesday, 14th. This day My Daingerfield hade 35 Hoggs Killed 
weighting at an average about 150 lb. and they are to serve for salt 
Beacon untill the return of next year this time, all the Hams and 
Shoulders are cured with salt peter. Sold \ doz? horn Buttons at 3^ . 

Tuesday, 20th. last night I dreamt that my wife came to me here, 
and told me she had sent Johnnie and Bettie to Deall ' to stay and left 
George in the house with M. J. the servant. 

Sunday, 2^th. Christmas day, stayed at home all day along w! the 
Overseer and Childreen because I hade no saddle to go to the Church 
with. In the morning the Col' Ordred up to school two Bottles of the 
best Rum and some suggar for me. 

Munday, 26th. This forenoon the Coll wou'd have me to take his 
saddle and ride to Toun and Amuse myself, and when I was going gave 
me Six Shillings for pocket money. I went to Toun and Dined in a pri- 
vate house and after buying i^ Doz° Mother of Pearle buttons for my 
white morsyld Vest I return' d home in the evening. 

Tuesday, 2jth. St. Johns day. This day^ a Grand Lodge in Toun, 
And the whole went to Church in their Clothing and heard sermon. 

Thursday, 2gth. I began to keep school. 

Frciday, joth. This day there was severall Gentlemen from Fred- 
ericksburgh here at Dinner with whom I dined. 

Tuesday, January joth, 1775. This day Thof Brooks who has at- 
tend] ed ever night and on Sundays left school being obliged to go 40 
miles up the country to work, at same time he gave me an order on 
Coll Daingerfield for £,\. 10. S. Curr'' of which p^i. 5. 2 was for teach- 
ing him. 

Saturday, 21st. Some time ago I having got a present of piece of 
Lead coul'? Cloath from Miss Lucy Gaines' I got made in a Vest by Kid- 
beck the Taylor for which I have this day paid him 3/ i^ Cur-T. 

Sunday, 22nd. This day at Church in Town and heard Mr Maree 
preach Text 2^ Corf 4 Chap: and 18'!' Verse. 

Tuesday, 31st. i pm yesterday Ja~ and W." Porters, sons of M' 
William Porter Merch! in Fredericksb^ came here to School. 

Tuesday, Februaty 14th. This day the Col! on finding more wheat 
left among the straw then should be blamed M! Lev/is the Overseer for 

1 A village on the mainland of Scotland, in Caithness, about ten miles south of 
Thurso. Harrower may have come fi-om there or had relatives living there. 

2 Always a day of especial festivity at Fredericksburg, ending in a ball at the Sun 
Rise tavern. 

'The housekeeper. 



Diai-y of Jolin Hari'ozver 93 

his carelessness, upon which Mr Lewis seem'd verry much enraged for 
being spoke to and verry sawcily threw up all the keys he hade in charge 
and went off; upon which the Col! sent for me and delivered me the 
keys of the Barn and begged I would assist him in his business untill he 
got another Overseer. 

[ ]\'ednesdaf\ , ijth. This morning the Col' sent to scholl for me, and 
begg'd me to go to Snowcreek Barn and deliver the wheat that was 
there first to the Vessel who was come to receive the whole of it. She 
was a schooner of 120 Tun M" name Jn" Lurtey. 

Tuesday, 21st. Empl? as Yesterday. This day the Col! engaged a 
young man for an Overseer Whose name is Anthony Fraser. 

Thursday, 2jd. This day finised trading out wheat, also deliv;" the 
last of it having delivered One thousand five hundred Bushels and 240 
Bushels formerly deliv!' by M^ Lewis which with 260 Bushels sown makes 
2000 Bushels besides serving the Famely and some bushels sold to people 
who works on the plantation. 

Munday, 2'/th. This day M' Fraser came here and entred to take his 
charge as Overseer, and he is to have his bed in the school along with me. 
he appears to be a verry quiet young man and has hade a tolerable edu- 
cation, his Grandfather came from Scotland. 

Saturday, March i8th. Last night a verry keen frost so that all the 
fruit that is blossom'd is in danger of being killed by it. Same day I 
wrote M' Samuel Edge the following letter Viz.' 
Sir 

When I hade the pleasure of seeing [you] on the 4'!" Febf last at your 
howse you then told me you was to be in Town the week after, and pro- 
posed calling here in your way home, in order to pay me the twenty 
shillings as agreed on ; but since have heard nothing from you. Nothing 
but the real necessity for some books (which I greatly want) Oblidges 
me now to trouble you with this, hopping if it is any ways convenient for 
you, that you will send the cash per the bearer ( and if required) how soon 
time will permit me to see you shall give you an ample discharge. My 
compliments to yourself M? Edge and Miss Sally and am ife'." 

Saturday, 2^th. At noon went to Newport to see M' Martin 
Heely schoolmaster to M.' Spotswood's Children, and after Dinner I 
spent the afternoon with him in conversation and hearing him play the 
Fiddle. He also made a Niger come and play on an Instrument call'd a 
Barrafou. The body of it is an oblong box with the mouth up and 
stands on four sticks put in bottom, and cross the [top] is laid 1 1 lose 
sticks upon [which] he beats. 

Sunday, 26th. 9 AM Set out on horseback for Mount Church ' in 
Caroline County in Company with M' Richards, M™ Richards, M' Mar- 
tin Heely, M' Anthony Frazer and Miss Lucy Gaines. And heard M'. 
Waugh preach his text being the i'.' V. of the 12'!' Chapter of Ecclesias- 

' For Mount Church, in St. Mary's parish, see Bishop Meade's Old Churches, 
Ministers and Families of Virginia, I. 410-412. Rev. Abner Waugh was the incum- 
bent of the parish, having recently succeeded the more famous Rev. Jonathan Boucher. 



94 Documents 

tes. After which we all returned to M! Richards before 3 pm where we 
dined and spent the afternoon. From Belvidera to Mount Church is 10 
Miles. 

Saturday, April ist. At 6 pm M! Martin Heely schoolmaster at 
Newport for M' Spotswoods Children came here to pay me a Visite and 
staid with me all night. 

SiniJay, gth. This day a good number of Company dined here 
among which was Mr and M? Porter from Town, who heard their eldest 
son read and seemed verry well pleased with his performance since he 
came to me ; Myself at home all day. 

Frciiiay, 14th. This being good Freiday, I broke up school for 
Easter Holly day, and the Col'." three sons went to Town with M' Por- 
ter's two sons this forenoon I went a money hunting but catc'd none. 

Saturday, i^th. This forenoon I went a Money Hunting again an 
other way but hade no better success then yesterday. This afternoon 
M! Frazer went up the Country to see his Mother and friends, and I give 
out corn for him, untill he returns again. 

Maitday, ijtli. At 8 AM I rode to Town in order to see the boys 
and Amuse myself fore some hours. On my Aravel in Town the first thing 
I got to do was to dictate and write a love letter from M': Anderson, to 
one Peggie Dewar at the Howse of Mr John Mitchel at the Wilderness. 
After that I went to M' John Glassell's store to enquire for letters from 
home but found none ; here I mett with the Coll who gave me two pair 
brown thread stockins for my summers wear. At 2 pm I dined with him 
in M' Porters, and soon after Returned home. 

Thursday, 20th. This morning all the boys came to school again at 
their Usual hour. On tuesday last was missed out of the pasture a breed- 
ing mare, search being made fore her by the Overseer he found this 
afternoon the Neiger fellow who hade rode her off and after riding her 
about 24 Miles from the Plantation turned her loose in the high road, he 
is a Blacksmith by trade and belongs to and works at a Plantation of 
M.' Corbins,' and after he had confessed the fact M' Frazer ower Over- 
seer stript him to the [skin] and gave him 39 laches with Hickry switches 
that being the highest the Law allows at one Wheeping. 

Munday, 24th. This morning the Coll began to have his Indian 
Corn planted which they do in following maner Viz' The plowers 
plow three furrows close together from one end of the field to the other, 
the midle furrow of each three being 6 feet distance from the middle of 
the ne.xt three and so on from the one side of the field to the other. 
Then they run one furrow across the field and at 6 feet distance another 
and so on in streight lines from the one end of the field to the other 
which leaves the whole field like a dambrod^ then the Neigers drop the 
corn in every square and at the same time with a strock of their How cover 
[them] . the grown betwixt the furrow are brocke up Afterw"*.' at Liesure 
with the Ploughs without any Damage to the come. But the best method 
is when the ploughs is lay off the ground withe one furrow a Neiger 

' To whom Harrower was afterward overseer. ^ Checker-board. 



Diary of John Harroiver 95 

ought to follower every Plough drop the corn and immediatly cover it 
up. Some are now done planting of corn, last night Mr. Frazer found 
the Mare that was rode off and brought her home. 

Freiday, 28th. This day by an express from Boston we are informed 
of an engagement betwixt the British troops and the Bostonians, in which 
the former were repuls'd with loss, but no particulars as yet. 

Saturday, 2gth. This day there was at Fredricksburgh about 600 men 
under Arms composed of the independant companys of severall Coun- 
ties, they designed to have Marched to Williamsburg and to have made 
the Governor deliver back some poweder he caused to be Clandestinlly 
carried off, but was prevented by an express from the speacker with ad- 
vice that the Governor was readdy to give it upon ten minutes warning.' 

Wednesday, May 3d. This day the Coll bought and rec'^ ten bush- 
els of Span! Salt for ten bushels Indian Corn, at noon the Col'." Nigers 
finised planting Indian Corn having planted about 300 Acres of land, 
which took about 25 Bushels of sead. 

Saturday, 6th. This afternoon I planted 41 hills of grownd with 
Cotton seed. 

Sunday, jth. At 2 houses this day seeking money that was owing me 
but got none. 

Mu7iday, 8th. This morning I planted 22 Hills of grownd with 
Water Mellon and Mush Mellon Seed. This afternoon I eat ripe straw- 
berries. 

Saturday, 20th. This day I wrote the following letter to SamI Edge 
for Twenty shillings that has been due me since the 25"' Nov' 1774. 

M' Samuel Edge 

Sir — I wrote you 18"' March last requesting you then to 
send me per the Bearer then sent, the twenty shillings you are indebted 
to me, which money you promised to have paid a Month before that 
time. Notwithstanding of which I have neither seen nor heard from 
you since, which to me appear some what Strange. 

On Saturday last I was informed you intended to send me a wild 
Goose hunting by giving me a Draught on another. But if any one is 
owing you I do not chuse to demand the debt ; Therefore I hereby aquant 
you that I will not accept a draught upon none ; Therefore I am hope- 
full you will now send the money by the bearer hereof as I really have 
pressing occassion for it and cannot be longer without it, having neither 
stock nor store here to receive money \v\\.\y to purchase what I really 
cannot be without, your complyance to the above will greatly oblige and 
wherein I can serve you may freely command Sir yours &? 

Signed J H 
Addressed To Mr. Samuel Edge, Overseer. 

This afternoon I was invited to a Gentlemans house in order to eat 
plenty of ripe Cherries. 

' See Henry's /W/rA/' j%«;j, I. 277-279; .Sparks's Waskiiigtoii, II. 507-509. 



96 Documents 

Sunday, 2jst. This day I hade sent me a present from M" Porter in 
Fred? two silk Vestcoats and two pair cotton britches all of them having 
been but verry little wore by M' Porter. 

Saturday, 2/(/i. This afternoon I rode to Town and bought at 
Mr Porters Store 2 handkerchiefs and one Yd Bedd Tyke' at 2/2 d Curr^ 
being all 5/2d. Currr. At same time reel' a letter from my Wife dated 
i'.' March 1775. It came under cover to Mf John Glassell Merch.' in 
Toun and cost me i/3d Curr?. At same time rec'.' from Thof Anderson 
a pair of new Shoes on the Col'.' Acco'. 

Saturday, June 3d. At 9 AM Mf Porter's two son's was sent for and 
they went to Toun to keep Whitsuntide hoUiday. 

Wednesday, jth. Began to keep school again. 

Freiday, i6th. This day at 9 AM Col'.' Daingerfield set out for his 
Q.'' down the Country at Chickahommanie to receive his Cash for the last 
years produce of said plantation from John Miller his Overseer there. 

Sunday, i8th. This day at 10 AM went to John Battle's and 
rec^ 6/ for teaching his William i of a year and from [thence] to 
Thomas Evans's and rec;" 20/ for teaching his Daught.' Sarah for One 
Year. 

Saturday, July ist. At noon I went to Frederick': and bought 15 
bigg Double Guilt buttons at 4/9 One hank silk twist at 1/ and one 
ounce brown thread at 6d. my pocket expence this day i/. I returned 
home an houre before sun down. 

Freiday, jfh. This day at sunset Col'^ Daingerfield finished cutting 
down 260 Bushels sowing of wheat in fifteen days with seven Cradlers 
and it was done in 6 days less time than 203 bushels sowing was last 
Harvest and with fewer hands. For this Harvest his money payments 
to Out labourers is reduced no less than jQi?,.^. 6d. lower than it was 
last and at same time the Wheat better put up all which is chiefly owing 
to the Activity of Anthony Frazer the present Overseer. 

Saturday 8th. This nioring began to bring Wheat to the Barn with 
two Carts Si.x O.xen in the One and three Horses in the Other. 

Sunday, i6th. This day I went to Church in Toun and heard ser- 
mon preached by one Mf Murray his text was Math : 6'.*' and 24'^' V. I 
was no pocket expence this day. 

Wednesday, igfh. This day I was Informed that M'.' Daingerfield 
hade made a Complaint upon me to the Col" for not waiting after Breack- 
fast and dinner (sometimes) in order to take the Children along with me 
to schoU ; I imagine she has a grudge against me since the middle of 
Feb' last the reason was, that one night in the Nursery I wheep'd Billie 
for crying for nothing and she came in and carried him out from me. 
Some nights after he got into the same humour and his Papa The Col? 
hearing him call'd me and Asked why I cou'd hear him do so and not 
correct him for it ; Upon that I told him how M'." Daingerfield had be- 
haved when I did correct him. At that he was angry w' her. 



Diary of Joint Harrozvcr 97 

Saturday, 22d. On SaturdT 13 Ins! some words happned betwixt 
John M'Dearmand and the Col" about John's not being expedecious 
enough About stacking and requiring too many hands to attend him 
upon which John left the work immedeatly and has not returned since. 
And by the Acco" in my hands I find the Col? is in Johns debt J^,(). 10.9 
Virg" Currancy. 

Sunday, 23d. M" Porter having been here all night from Town ; 
I this day after breackfast brought all the boys with their books into the 
passage to the Col° who heard each of them read and was highly pleased 
with their performance. M? Porter likeways told that her sons did me 
great honour ; as well as the rest. 

Wednesday, 26th. This day at noon was finished the bringing hom 
and stacking the Col"' Wheat having 18 Stacks of 100 Bushels each by 
Computation besides a Large Barn fill'd up to the roof. It was brought 
home this year in 15 days less time than it was last year. I this day ate 
Watermelon of my own planting it being the first I ate this season. 

Wednesday , August 2d. Yesterday the Col° Began to Sow Wheat for 
the ensewing croop. This day came to School W" John and Lucy Pat- 
ties, and are to pay conform to the time they Attend, expecting a Visit 
of M' Kenedy sent to Town for a bottle of Vest India Rum which cost 
me 1/3 Currancy. 

Tuesday, 22d. This morning the Col° began to trade out wheat in 
the Yard with horses which is done in the following manner Viz'. They 
take wheat from the stack and spreads it about eight foot broad in a large 
circle, and with as many horses as they have they ride upon it round and 
round and 3 or 4 men keep always turning and stirring it up, and by this 
method they with 10 or 12 horses will trade out 100 Bushels in a day. 
where they trade Just now is 300 feet Circumference. 

Munday, 28th. Coppy of my 4th Letter wrote this day to my wife. 

My Dearest Life 

Your most agreeable favours I rec'': 27'!' May last, which 
was dated i".' March, And you may belive me it gave me the greatest 
satisfaction I have hade for twelve months past to hear from your own 
hand that you my Dearest Jewell and my sweet Infants are and has been 
in a good state of health since I left you, As I still am and has been for 
the above time, For which we have all great reason to render all due 
praise to that ever Glorious Being who wisely governs and directs all 
our Acctions ; And may he for the sake of him who suffered on the 
Cross for all sinners continoue to protect and direct you and all that 
conserns us for the better. I would have wrote you sooner after the 
recept of yours, had I not been waiting an Answer to a verry long letter 
I wrote 6'!' Dec! last which I find had not come. to your hand when you 
wrote me but am hopefull it has long before now and an Answer to it on 
its way here. When you write me I intreat you to do it on a sheet of 
the largest post paper you can get and leave no waste room in it, as the 
postage is no more than if it was three lines on \ sheet. And sure I am 
you can find subject enough to fill a sheet of paper as you well know that 

VOL. VI. — 7. 



98 Documents 

whatever comes from your hand must be agreeable. I am extreamly glad 
to hear you are Chiefly directed by your Broth' Cap'. Craigie and I think 
myself highly obliged to him both for his advice and assistance to you in 
my absence, I having of this date wrote him myself and given him my 
most hearty thanks for his good offices to you and begged his continou- 
ance of the same. 

I begg you to advise with your Brother on that paragraph of my last 
letter with respect to your moving here, and I have likeways now begged 
him to write me his thoughts on the same subject, so that I expect you 
will both write me fully on recept of this, and I begg you to put him in 
mind of it. I have also wrote him to be assisting to you, untill such time 
as the ports are oppen for trade betwixt Britain and the Collonies and the 
disputes made up betwixt them, for untill that is done there is no such 
thing as remitting money or goods from any part of America to Britain, 
which gives me a good deall of trouble on your Ace' of which your 
Broth' can more fully inform you of. As also of the engagements that has 
been betwixt the British troops and the forces of the united Collonies 
before Boston as room wou'd faill me here to do it. As to Mf Forbes 
pray make my Compt.' to him and spouse and tell him from me that I 
make no doubt from the information I have of his making good bread in 
this Country for that a Journaman Bricklayer here has no less than five 
shillings a day Currancy which is equall to four Shillings St'. And I am 
aquanted with an Undertaker in that branch of business who is now set 
down on good Estate and rides in his Chair every day. But if he was 
to come over he must resolve to give closs application to business and 
keep from drinking. About 7 months ago a Gentleman in Fredericksb"! 
hade his two sons taken from the high school there and put under ni)- 
care for which he pays me ^^5 a year. He is an English man himself 
and his Lady from Edinburgh,' and I have the pleasure to have given the 
parents such satisfaction that I hade sent me in a present two silk vest- 
coats and two pair of britches ready to put on for changes in summer. 1 
observe my Dear Dogg George writes me his name at the foot of your 
letter. But I am surprized that you take no notice of Jack and Bettie. 
But I hope you will not faill to be more particular about them in your 
next, and give my blessing to them all and tell them from me that I hope 
they will be obedient to you in every respect and mind their books. Be- 
fore I get things brought to a bearing was any vessell by chance to put 
into Bressaysound'- bound for any part of Virginia or for Pawtomack 
river which divides this Collony from Maryland, I wou'd have you at all 
events Make your Brother apply for your Passage with the Children and 
a servant and imediatly dispose of every article in the house your Feather 
Bedds Bedding and Cloaths excepted, and if any money to spare lay it 
out in Linen ;'' and write me imediatly on your Aravell here by post 

' Mr. and Mrs. Porter. 
2 The harbor of Lerwick. 

" Linen was one of the chief articles of domestic manufacture and e.vport from Shet- 
land in the eighteenth century. 



Diary of John Harroiver 99 

and I shou'd soon be with you. May God grant that such a cast may 
happen to you. I must now conckide by offering my Compt" to M' and 
M" Vance, and all who enquires for me in a friendly way, with my bless- 
ing to you my sweet life and my Dear Infants is all at present from, My 
Dearest Jewell, your ever affectionate Husband while — Signed J. H. 

Belvidera 28'.'' Aug' 1775. Addressed to M" John Harrower in Ler- 
wick, Zetland, by Edinburgh, North Britain. 

Same date. A Coppy. 

D: Sir 

I make no doubt but by my not 
laying my mind oppen to you sooner I have partly incur' d your dis- 
pleasure, But before I am done shall hope for your excusing me, And 
allow me to take this opportunity of returning you my most gratefull Ac- 
knowledgements for your good advice and Assistance to my Dearest Wife 
and Children since we have been absent from one another, and I 
earnestly intreat your continouance of the same and am hopefull you will 
not see her in strait untill I am able to repay you, and wherin I can 
serve you or yours it shall never be wanting on my part. My design of 
leaving Zetland for some time was only known to my wife ; And the 
making it known to any person else wou'd not in all probabilitie wou'd 
not have hindred it ; I being so straitned that nothing but money upon 
Intrest for some Considerable time cou'd have saved me from being per- 
sonally exposed ; But when I left the Country, I did not intend going 
further than Holland, or even London cou'd I have found business there 
to my liking but not finding that, and the frost being strong in Holland, 
I was determined to see what I cou'd do in this Western World. And 
as to my business and situation here, Annie can fully inform you if she 
has not already done it. Here I have keept my health much better than 
ever I did before in any place, and am as happily situated as I cou'd wish 
hade I my wife and Children with me. Only not in a way at present to 
make much money, tho I hope in a short time I shall be able to make 
more ; I have now wrote Annie to advise with you with respect to her 
moving to this Country with the Children, and shall expect her thoughts 
upon it in her next ; And I earnestly begg of you that on receipt of this 
you take the trouble to write me yourself and give me your mind on the 
same subject, likeways let me know how trade goes with any thing else 
that is remarcable in the country. And Annie will give you the proper 
directions for me. 

Untill the disputes betwixt Governient and the Collonies are set- 
tled there is no such thing as getting any remittance made to any part 
in Britain ; Hostilities being already begun at Boston and three Engage- 
ments already fought betwixt the British troops and the provincialls the 
last of which on the 17"' June last at Charleston near Boston, when the 
Provincialls gained the day as they did of the other two. In this last 
Eng! Gen" Gage hade above a thousand men left dead on the field of 
Battle and 500 wounded. Among the dead are many of the British ofii- 



lOO Doctiments 

cers, which is owing to the Americans taking sight when they fire, An 
instance of w!' I shall here give you. Col? Washington of this Collony 
being appointed Generalissimo of all the American Forces raised and to 
be raised, made a demand of 500 Rifflemen from the fronteers of this 
Coll:'. But those that insisted on going far exceeded the number wanted 
when in order to avoid giving offence, The commanding Officer chuse 
his Comp? by the following method Vizi He took a board of a foot 
squar and w! Chalk drew the shape of a moderate nose in the center and 
nailed it up to a tree at 150 yd' distance and those who came nighest the 
mark with a single ball was to go. But by the first 40 or 50 that fired the 
nose was all blown out of the board, and by the time his Comp- was up 
the board shared the same fate. How or when these differences will [end] 
Clod only knows. But the Americans are determined to stand by one an- 
other to the last man and all exports and imports are intirely stopt also 
planting of Tobacco. On 26'!' last M° wheat Harvest was finised on 
this Plantation by getting the last of it brought home and stacked, the 
Amount of which will be about 3 thousand bushells, and now ten ploughs 
are at work every day ploughing wheat into the ground again for the 
next croop. It is sown here in the same field where the Indian corn is 
growing, so that both grow together untill the M? of Novr when the corn 
is gathered and the field cleared of the stalks. Indian corn is planted at 
six feet distance each way as streight and regular as you do Cabbage in a 
garden and when it is sprung up only two stalks left in a hill ; It will 
grow from five to twelve or fourteen high and each stalk will have two if 
not three Ears on it and each Ear will have from five to Eight hundred 
grains on it, the size of which you know. But from Ap" the time it is 
planted untill now that the wheat is sown among it. It is kept as clean of 
grass and weeds as a garden by the Ploughs running continually betwixt 
the rows first the one way and then the other, and the Howers going 
round the hills with their hows, and without this work it wou'd come to 
no perfection. Of Corn there will be on this Plantation about 8 or 9 
Hundred Barrells at five Bushells to the Barrell, about 350 Karrell will 
be used for the Nigers and Horses, the rest for sale, the price about 10/ 
per B". As for what the White ates of it is but triffling for three Barrell 
of Corn is rather more than any one Man can use in a year let him ate 
no other bread, the value of which is only 30/. All the white people on 
the Plantation is the Col", his Lady, five Children, a Housekeeper an 
Overseer and myself, But I think no more now of seeing 40 or 50 Nigers 
every day, than I did of seeing so many [Dabling ?] wifes at Johnsmiss' with 
single stockins, two or three of the best of which if I hade here I cou'd 
sell to Good Acco!. On casting my Eye out of the window I cannot 
help most heartily wishing you hade some of the most Charming Water- 
mellons I have now growing and some of them ripe within less 3 Yd? of 
where I sitt. Some of which will weigh from 20 to 30 lb. My Plan- 
tation for my Amusement consists of the following Articles Viz' Water 

' .St. John's Day. 



Diary of Jo Jin Harrozver loi 

melons, mushmelons, Cucumbers, Pumpkins, Gourds Spanish Pitatoes 
and Cotton. So much for Plantation information. 

I am truly affraid I have incroached on your patience already in 
giving you the trouble of reading this long epistle therefore I shall con- 
clude at this time by earnestly entreating you to write me at Large and 
let me know your thoughts on the present disputes betwixt the Collonies 
and the Ministry. My Compt' to M" Craigie Miss Peggy and your two 
sons to M' and M" Sands' and their children and please accept of the 
same yourself from him who is with sinceer regaird D' S' your Most Aff.' 
Broth' and Hu' Servl J. H^ 

Belvidera 28? August 1775. Addressed to Cap! James Craigie in Ler- 
wick, Zetland, by Edinburgh, North Britain. 

Saturday, September 2d. At noon rode to Town and delivered two 
letters to Mr. Henry Mitchell, One for my wife and one for her Brother 
Cap* James Craigie After which I retur'! home by sundown. 

Wednesday, 6th. This day I was informed by M' Frazer that M? 
Daingerfield talking to them of me that morning about some Ghie dis- 
respt fully calld me Old Harrower by which and her behaveiour to myself 
I find her grudge continous tho she has not courage to say any thing to 
myself well knowing she has [no] foundation to go upon. 

Sunday, loth. This day came Dick a Serv! belonging to M.' Anderson 
from Toun and a Comerade of his to see me and Brought me a pair new 
shoes and a pair for M' Frazer also a Bottle Vest India Rum which we 
drank in school in Company with M' Frazer. 

Munday, nth. This day sent my letter to wife to Fredericksb? by 
M' Frazer and gave him 1/6 to give with it at the post office as Postage to 
New York. But M' Brown my friend the Clark told Mf Frazer he wou'd 
send it home free for me by a Ship going to saile. 

Friday, ijth. Wrote my 5"' I^etter this day from Virginia, This be- 
ing the Coppy. 

iMy Dearest Life, Yours of the 12"' May last I received 2'' Ins.' ime- 
diatly after sending off one for you and one for your Aff'.' brother dated 
28'!' last M*; Both which will come to your Hand I imagine at the same 
time that this will as I am oblidged to send this to New York by post in 
order to come to London by the Pacquet, There being no more Oppor- 
tunities from this Collony to Glasgow this season, by reason that the 
Nonimportation and Nonexportation Acts of the Continental Congress 
now takes place and will continue untill the disputes betwixt Great Brit- 
ain and the Colonys be settled. And I intreat you imediatly on receipt 
of this letter to wait on your Brother and show it to him, and he will 
more fully inform you of these Matters than room will permit me to do 
here. As my principal Design of writing you this so soon after my last is 
to make you as easy as possible I can, both with respect to my not send- 
ing for you and making you a remittance. As to the first of these I 
cou'd not be certain if you wou'd come to this Country or not untill I 

' Rev. James Sand.s was the minister of I.erwick, 



I02 Documents 

rec'! your last letter. But as I find by it you are satisfied to come here, 
you may believe me nothing in this world can give me equall satisfaction 
to my having you and my D' Infants with me. As a proof of which I 
have ever signified the same in my letters to your brother. And I now 
declare unto you as I sinceerly write from my heart before God, that I 
will how soon I am able point out the way to you how you may get here, 
and at same time make you what remittance I can in order to Assist 
you on your way. But you must consider that as I hade not a shilling 
in my pocket when I left you It must take me some time befor I can be 
able to make you a remittance. Therefore I even pray you for Gods 
sake to have patience and keep up your heart and no means let that fail 
you : For be asured the time is not Longer to you than me, And the 
National disputes and the stopage of trade betwixt this and the Mother 
Country if not soon settled will of course make the time longer as your 
bror will inform you. As to your Jocks upon me with respect to my 
getting a Virginian Lady it is the least in all my thoughts and am deter- 
mined to leave that Jobb for you by aiding your sons with your advice 
to them in their choise of wifes among the Virginian Ladys : For I am 
resolved (as at first) to do as much for you as God is pleased to put in 
my power. 

I am glad you are moved to a place of the Toun, as you say agree- 
able to your own disposition, but am extreamly fearfull for you on Acco! 
of the earthen floor : And considering Forbes behavour to you, what I 
wrote you in my last conserning him you have prudence enough to keep 
it to yourself, and I will give myself no further trouble here about him. 
I am verry uneasy about your being so tender this spring But am hope- 
full you have quite got the better of it before now. At same time it 
gives me great satisfaction to hear the Children are all well, and that 
Jock is still at Walls.' I hope he is now making some progress in his 
Education, and am hopefull George will do the same. As for Belts Im 
not afraid of her considering whose hands she is under. I have nothing 
further to add at present only I again begg of you to keep a good heart 
and do the best you can untill it please God to enable me to assist you 
and for aught I think you shall hear no more from me untill I be able to 
remitt you either more or less. 

My Compliments and sinceer good wishes to your Brother M' Craigie, 
his spouse and Family likeways my Comp? to M' and M'* Vance, and all 
others wh may enquire for nie in a friendly way ; with my sinceer love 
and prayers to God for you my Dearest Jewell and Children is all at 
present from your ever AffV Husb! signed J. H. Belvidera is'!" Sept' 
1775. Addressed To M" John Harrower in Lerwick Zetland by the 
New York Packet to London and by Edin' North Britain. 

Thursday, 28th. This morning I rec"! from Benjamin Edge by the 
hand of his daughter two Dollars, one half and one Quarter Dollar being 
in all sixteen shillings and Sixpence in part payment for teaching his son 

'On the west of the island of Mainl.-ind, about ten miles from Lerwick. 



Diary of John Harroiver 103 

and daughter. Same day I seed a Compr of 70 Men belonging to one 
of the Regiments of Regullars raised here for the defence of the rights 
and liberties of this Coll-' in particular and of North America in Generall. 
They were on their March to Williamsburg. 

Thursday, October 12th. Company here last night Viz' Old M" AVal- 
ler, her son and his wife and at school there M' Heely Schoolmaster and 
Mr Brooks Carpenter and they w! M' Frazer and myself played whist and 
danced untill 1 2 OClock, Mr Heely the Fidle and dancing. We drank 
one bottle of rum in time. M' Frazer verry sick after they went home. 

Muiiday, 16//1. This morning 3 men went to work to break, swingle 
and heckle flax and one woman to spin in order to make course linnen for 
shirts to the Nigers, This being the first of the kind that was made on 
the plantation. And before this year there has been little or no linnen 
made in the Colony. 

Tuesday ijfh. Two women spining wool on the bigg wheel and 
one woman spinning flax on the little wheel all designed for the Nigers. 

Munday, 2^d. One Frieday last I lent to Miss Lucy one pair of my 
shoes to spin with. This day General Washintons Lady dined here, As 
did her son and Daug!" in Law,' M" Spotswood, M" Campbell, M" 
Dansie, Miss Washington and Miss Dandrige, They being all of the 
highes Rank and fortunes of any in this Colony. 

Saturday, 28th. Last night came here to school M' Heely and Tho! 
Brooks in order to spend the evening, but by reason of M' Frazer' s not 
coming from the House, and some stories told them by M? Richards in 
order to sow disention. She being really a Wolf cloathed with a lambs 
skin and the greatest Mischief maker I have seen in all my Travels, The 
first time I seed her, I cou'd observe in her countenance Slyness and 
deceit, and I have always avoided going to the House as much as possi- 
ble, But now I really think she ought to be avoided by every christian 
who regairds peace and their own character. They both went home at 10 
pm. 

Sunday, 2gth. Yesterday at noon M' Heely came here and asked 
me to take a walk with him in order to see Miss Molly White late house- 
keeper at Newport she having some shirts of his making for him, and 
after crossing the river we found her at an Aunts house of hers one M'.' 
Hansfords where we stayed all night, and this day Miss Molly came with 
us two Miles to a Gentlemans house in our way home, and after aquant- 
ing M' Heely where his shirts was ready for him the conversation turned 
upon clearing themselves to each other of most malicious stories raised by 
the above M" Richards in order to set them at variance and included 
with them was Miss Lucy Gaines our housekeeper, and myself. But now 
that every one has discovered the snake, I belive in time coming her 
bite will be avoided. 

■ John Parke Custis and his wife Eleanor Calvert. The Mrs. Spotswood referred to 
was probably the wife of Col. Alexander Spotswood of Newport, a niece of Gen. Wash- 
ington. Mrs. Campbell was probably Mary, the widow of John Spotswood, son of the 
governor, who married John Campbell, Gentleman. Mis.-; Washington must have been a 
niece of Gen. Washington, and Miss Dandridge was perhaps a niece of his wife. 



1 04 Documents 

Thursday, November gf/i. Upon Thursday 2^ Ins' there was a Camp 
Marked out close at the back of the school for a Batalion of 500 private 
men besides officers and they imediatly began to erect tents for the 
same.' And this day the whole was finished for 250 men being 50 tents 
for the privates and 6 D" for officers and 3 D° for the Comissary and his 
stores, with one for a Buffalo which is to be shown which I shall afterwards 
describe. — This day the 250 men being 5 Companys from different parts 
aravied at the Camp the other 5 Companys not being as yet compleated. 

Saturday, nth. At 1 1 OClock forenoon I rode to Toun and bought 
one stone Mugg and Tin pot at lod. and lyl yd. Linen at 5/ of 
which I wanted two stocks for winter wear, and the rest of it I made 
a present to Miss Lucy, for her readyness to do any little thing for 
me ; I seed no worsted stockins for sale but one pair all Moth eaten and 
as they were they asked no less than 6/ for them. I dined at M' Porters 
spent 7-I at Mr Anderson and then came home by sun down. 

Sunday, 12th. This day a great number of company from Toun and 
Country to see the Camp four of which (Gentlemen) paid me a visite 
which put me to 1/3 expence for a bottle of rum. at noon by Accident 
one of the Captains tents was set on fire and all consumed but none of 
things of any Acco! Lost. 

Miuiday, ijth. This forenoon the Col! sent a waggon Load of Tur- 
nups and Pitatoes to the Camp as a present for all the men. 

Tuesday, 14th. All the minute-men in the Camp employed learning 
their exercise. 

Wednesday , i^tJi. This morning I drank a small dram of rum made 
thick with brown suggar for the cold, it being the first dram I have 
drunk since I lived on the Plantation. 

Thursday, i6th. The soldiers at muster. 

Freiday, ijth. The soldiers at D°, and I left of going into the Nur- 
sery and taking charge of the children out of school. 

Wednesday, 2gth. This day the camp was brocke up and the 
whole Batallion dismissed after each private receiving 22 days pay at 1/4 
per day and 1/ for provisions out and home. During the time the camp 
was by the school it cost me 8/ i\ of expences which is more by 2/ than 
it cost me for 1 2 Months before. 

Saturday, December 2d. At noon went to Toun and seed two Com- 
panys of regulars from the Ohio among which was one real Indian, he 
was of a Yelow couler short brod faced and rather flat nosed, and long 
course black [hair] quite streight. he spoke verry good english. I staid 
in Toun all night and slept at Mf Andersons ; I bought from M' Porter a 
black Silk Handkerchief at 5/. 

Sunday, jd. After breackfast I went and found out Miss Molly 
White and left with her cloth to make me two winter Stocks and a stock 
to make them by. Dined in Toun, came home in the afternoon. 

> An ordinance of the July Convention had provided for twenty days' drill on the part 
of the minute-men of each group of counties. The minute-men of the district composed of 
Caroline, Spotsylvania, King George and Stafford were to number five hundred rank and 
file. Hening, IX. 16. 



Diary of JoJiu Harroiver 105 

Wednesday, 2yih. 

i" Both the last nights quite drunk was I, 

Pray God forgive me [of] the sin ; 

But had I been in good company, 

Me in that case No man had seen. 
2'' Plac'd by myself, without the camp. 

As if I were unclean — 

No friendly soul does my floor tramp. 

My greiff to ease, or hear my moan. 
3'' For in a prison at large I'm plac't, 

Bound to it, day and night ; 

O, grant me patience, god of grace. 

And in thy paths make me walk right. 
4th This day alone, at home I am, 

Repenting sadly and full sore 

That ever the like unto me came. 

When this I see. The cause I will repent for ever more. 

Wednesday , January loth, 1776. This day we hade the Confirmation 
of Norfolk being reduced to ashes by the Men of War and British Troops 
under Command of Lord Dunmore. It was the Largest Toun in the 
Collony and a place of great Trade, it being situated a little within the 
Capes. Severall Women and Child" are killed. 

Saturday, ijfh. After 12 O Clock I went six Miles into the Forrest 
to one Daniel Dempsies to see if they wou'd spin three pound of Cotton 
to run 8 yds. per lb., | of it belonging to Miss Lucy Gaines for a goun 
and \ belonging to myself for Vestcoats, which they ag'I to do if I car- 
ried the cotton there on Saturd': 27'.'' Insl 

Sunday, 14th. At 1 1 AM I Sett out for Mansfield the seat of Man 
Page,' Esq! in order to see one W. Reid Gairdner" who came from Dun- 
kell in Scotland. Mr Scott Watch maker from Toun being also with 
him. I staid with them untill after sundown, having dined and being 
verry genteely entertained. Mr and M" Porter and all their Children 
came here to dinner and staid all night. 

Munday, ijth. Miss Lucy spinning my croop of Cotton at night 
after her work is done ; to make me a pair of gloves. 

Wednesday, ijth. This evening Miss Lucy came to school with 
M' Frazer and me, and finished my croop of Cotton by winding it, after 
its being doubled and twisted the whole consisting of two ounces. 

Tuesday, 2jd. This day I entred Edwin into the Latin Gramer. 

Saturday, 27th. After 12 pm I went to the forrest to the house of 
Daniel Dempsies and carried with me three pound of pick'd Cotton two of 
which belongs to Miss Lucy Gaines and one to me, which his wife has 

' Mann Page of Mansfield, half-brother of Governor John Page, was a memlser of the 
Continental Congress in 1777. 
2 /. e., gardener. 



io6 Documents 

agreed to spin to run 8 Yd? per lb., I paing her five shillings per lb. for 
spinning it and it is to be done by the end of May next. 

Tuesday, March ^th. This morning Bathurest Daingerfield got don 
reading through the Bible and the Newtestament, and began to learn to 
write 15 Ult" I gave them Holyday this Afternoon. 

Saturday, April 20th. At noon I asked the Col° for a bottle of rum 
as I expected two Countrymen to see me tomorrow, which he verry cheer- 
fully gave and desired me to ask him for one any time I wanted it and 
told me to take them to the Howse to dinner with me. in the afternoon 
he, his Lady, and Daughter went over the river to W. Jones's in King 
George County. 

Tuesday, 2jd. At noon rode to Town, got the Newspapers and 
settled with M' Porter for teaching his two sons 1 2 M°' when he verry 
genteely allowed me ^6 for them, besides a present of two silk vests 
and two pair of Nankeen Breeches last summer and a Gallon of rum at 
Christenmass, both he and M" Porter being extreamly well satisfied with 
what I hade don to them. 

Wednesday, 24th. General Muster of all the County Malitia in 
Town today, at Breackfast the Col° desired me to go and see it if I pleased, 
But being in town yesterday I chose to stay to day with my boys. 

Sunday, 28th. This day came here to pay me a visit Mr Reid from 
Mansfield and M' Scott from Toun and dined with me in the great house 
by the Col°" order, and after we hade spent the afternoon verry agreeably 
together they returned home in the evening. 

Sunday, May jfh. Early this morning I went to Mf McCalley's and 
entred his oldest son (about 8 years of age) to writting, stayed there all 
day and rode his horse home in the evening. The Col" went to Newport 
and dinned there. 

Tuesday, jth. Billie ended reading through his Bible. 

Thursday, gfh. After dinner I took the boys with me to Massa- 
ponacks Briges to see 56 prisoners that was taken at the late battle in 
North Carolina, ' among them was a great many Emigrants from Scot- 
land who were all officers. I talked with several of them from Ross 
Shr and the Isle of Sky. 

Freiday, ijth. Genl' Fast by order of the Congress. I went to 
Church in Toun but no sarmon. dined at M' McAlleys and came home 
in the evening. The Col° and his Lady at Mount C? . 

Munday, 2jth. At 9 AM I went to M' McAlleys and staid teaching 
his Son and sister untill dark and then rode home bringing with me li 
Yd. Linen for summer breeches. 

Thursday, June 6th. In the afternoon I went to M' Becks, when he 
told me that M" Battle wanted to see me and to talk to me about teach- 
ing her two daughters to write, upon which I imediatly waited upon 
her and engaged to return upon Saturd next by i pm and begin them to 
write but made no bargain as yet. 

'Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge, February 27, 1776. In the list of prisoners, 
Force's American Archives, Fourth Series, V. 63, are many Highland names. 



Diary of John Harrojoej' 107 

Safiii-Jay, 8th. At noon I went to M'; Bataile's and entred two of 
her Daughters to writting, Viz. Miss Sallie and Miss Betty and contin- 
oued teaching them until night, when I agreed to attend them every Sat- 
urday afternoon and every other Sunday from this date until 8'." June 
1777 (If it please God to spare me) for four pound Virginia currancy. 

Sunday, <)th. After breackfast I rode to M' Mc Alleys and teach' d his 
son to write imtill 4 pm and then came home in the evening. 

Frciday, 14th. At noon Went to Jn'.' McDearmons and had 6 Yd: 
stript Cotton warped for 2 Veastcoats and two handkerchiefs all prepared 
at my own expence. 

Wednesday, igth. At noon went to snow creek and the boys and 
dined at the spring on Barbaque and fish. At 5 pm I went to M" Bat- 
taile and teac'd until \ an hour past 7. 

Wednesday 26th. At 5 pm I went to M: Becks and had a short Coat 
cut out of cotton cloth wove Jeans. I bought the cotton and paid for 
spinning it at the rate of 2/6 per lb. and one shilling per Yd. for weaving. 

Sunday, July yth. This morning I rode to Mansfield and breackfast 
with M' Reid and stayed and dined with him and in the afternoon he 
and I rode to see the Rowgallies that was building where we met with 
M' Anderson and Jacob Whitely and went to Town with them to 
Whitelys where we Joyned in Compf with M' Wright and one M' Bruce 
from King George, about 1 1 pm we brock up and every one went to his 
own home as I did. 

Wednesday, lofh. At 6 pm went to M" Battaile's and teach'd untill 
sunset and then return'd home and soon after hea[r]d a great many guns 
fired towards Toun. about 1 2 pm the Col" Despatched Anth'' Frazer 
there to see what was the cause of [it] who returned, and informed him 
that there was great rejoicings in Toun on Acco' of the Congress having 
declared the 13 United Colonys of North America Independent of the 
Crown of great Britain. 

Thursday, 22th. I imployed this morn° and forenoon getting Lead 
off Snowcreek house.' 

' I'robably for military uses. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



